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Ola, a 4th-year medical student at the Islamic University of Gaza, attended the Oxford Summer School in Medical Education with support from The Hanoon Foundation. During the programme, she gained a wide range of clinical and surgical skills, participated in structured training, and completed a placement in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

“A turning point in my medical journey, combining practical clinical and surgical skills with international academic exposure.”

Check testimonial and photos below.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to The Hanoon Foundation, previously known as FQMS, for their generous financial support which enabled me to attend the Oxford Summer School in Medical Education in the United Kingdom.

I had the invaluable opportunity to participate in the Oxford Summer School in Medical Education, which has been an enriching and inspiring experience.

Skills and Knowledge Gained:

Clinical Skills:

  • Structured history-taking.
  • Communication skills with patients.
  • Clinical examinations of the abdomen, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.
  • Cranial nerves and upper & lower limb examinations.
  • Vascular and breast examinations.
  • A–E assessment (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure/Environment).
  • Vital signs measurement: blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and O2 saturation.
  • Phlebotomy techniques using a tourniquet and butterfly needles.
  • Hand hygiene: seven steps and the five key moments.

Surgical Skills:

  • Basic laparoscopic skills.
  • Hand-tying techniques.
  • Subcuticular suturing and the Aberdeen knot.
  • Skin lesion excision and closure.
  • Different suturing techniques: vertical and horizontal mattress and buried dermal sutures.

Placement Experience:
• I had my clinical placement at John Radcliffe Hospital (JR Hospital) in Oxford, and I am truly grateful to the doctors there for their continuous support and guidance.
• I chose the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, where I discussed various patient cases with the consultants and learned valuable clinical reasoning and patient management skills.
• I was also introduced to the use of a logbook for documenting and reflecting on the clinical cases I encountered.

Furthermore, I gained hands-on exposure to:
• Using the endoscope for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
• Applying radiological techniques in endoscopic procedures.
• Learning the use of APC (Argon Plasma Coagulation) for controlling gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Understanding and practising ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) for diagnosing and managing biliary obstructions.

Conclusion:
This programme has been a turning point in my medical journey, combining practical clinical and surgical skills with international academic exposure.

I am sincerely grateful to The Hanoon Foundation, previously known as FQMS, for their generous financial support which enabled me to attend the Oxford Summer School in Medical Education. This opportunity has been a turning point in my medical journey, and I look forward to staying connected and participating in future opportunities, especially through an elective course.

Sincerely, and one day help me make an impact on the healthcare system in Palestine.

Read more about the international training placement programme here