MiST Student Fellowship

The MiST Foundation deems it very important to help and encourage students in their education. 

The 2021 Travelling Bursary was granted to Mr Othman Alagha, a 6th year Medical Student from

the Gaza Strip. We do wish Othman all the best in his career and look forward to him becoming a

MiST Foundation member in the future. Othman's report is below:

Elective Specialty in Turkey and the UAE

It was a dream to reach my destination after a long journey of suffering and worries, including travel through the Rafah Crossing. Before I left Gaza, I wondered many times if I would succeed in taking my elective specialty in Turkey, or would i be like many other colleagues who were accepted to take their elective in different countries yet they couldn't travel, mainly because of the closed crossings or visa issuing difficulties, and the lack of financial support, especially after the last Israeli attack on Gaza last May. However, MiST Foundation promised to provide me with financial support in this educational journey which was my ray of hope in spite of all the other obstacles that I would face once i arrive in Turkey.

 On August 4th 2021 a new adventure had  started as soon as the aircraft landed. All my fatigue and weakness faded when I reached Istanbul. I was enthusiastic, and to be honest a little afraid, because being away from my family is so challenging. But I was excited to make every minute count, to live this new experience, and to enjoy Turkey's charm.

My elective specialty in the general surgery department lasted for five weeks. But time passed like it was just a few days because I had very good relationships there, and i enjoyed my time between the two hospitals, Istanbul Medeniyet University Hospital and Medipol Mega University Hospital. I attended the wards, outpatient clinics, theatres and clinical sessions with Turkish medical students who were in their final year. It was my first time to form connections with non-Palestinian's and it felt good to have discussions with them about medical school, and also our plans for the future.

In the elective specialty course, my weekly schedule was divided into 3 sections; 2 days in surgery, 2 days in the clinics and one day in the emergency department. Although it wasn't a long period, almost one month, it was enough to learn new things in the medical field and participate in more than 21 surgeries. Some of them were usual to me, yet I was astonished when I watched a new surgery for the first time in my life (Laparoscopic rectosegmoidectomy). I will never forget its details. My supervisor praised me when I answered his questions during each surgery, "I admire and appreciate your advanced knowledge Othman" he said to me. This was a boost to my confidence which i needed, especially since i was so far away from home.

The final two weeks I was invited to the UAE on a short visit to see my sister and uncle, who were there and whom I haven’t seen for 7 years because of the closed border and the travelling issues from Gaza. During my visit I spent a lot of time as a visiting elective student in the emergency department at Al-Sharjah University Hospital.

This journey added a lot to my personality and to my thinking. I took responsibility of my whole life from A-Z. And i can say now that I am more confident and daring. From a scientific and practical view, I realized that medical graduates from Gaza’s universities are a rival to those from other countries and that they can compete very well.

 MiST Foundation Makes Dreams a Reality

Surgery was compelling to me as soon as I began my clinical years. The operation theatre environment was exciting and fast-paced, requiring me to develop the dexterity of my hands.

This training course made me more qualified in surgical skills. Moreover, it will greatly impact my future career and specialty choice as It will offer me a unique feature in the competition about the residency and training programs abroad.

During my rotations, I appreciated the healthy, competitive environment of people with whom I shared similar goals and interests, whilst encouraging each other to improve. So, I will surely share the knowledge and experience I gained with my colleagues.

I remembered my friends who could have made my trip better if they had been given financial support. And the last wish, is if I could have more time to contact with other institutions to make plans for my colleagues in the medical school at the Islamic university, as I did with the MiST Foundation that gave me a positive response and to offer me the support that I needed.

Giving the medical students a chance to travel is really good, but financial support is critical. Dreaming about something needs hard work from different aspects to be achievable. Keep supporting every talented student. By the grace of my god, I hope my dreams will be accomplished

Social Life in Turkey

My journey wasn't only in the hospital and with surgeries. I made a good social life with the great people in Turkey. After two weeks at the beginning of my elective specialty, my supervisor invited me to dinner. Time was flying, and every day I was making new friendships with students who were taking the same training in the same department.

Holidays were my chance to have an amazing social experience in Turkey. For me, Marmaris and Fethiye were just cities on the map, yet they became real when I visited them during my weekends. In such amazing Turkish cities, I felt I was born again; I did many activities for the first time in my life, like scuba diving and skiing with a parachute. These moments with all their details and great feelings I had will stay in my memory forever.

Turkey was the place where I met many beloved people; I also met my two friends who graduated from the Islamic university and now they are completing their specialization there. Not only weekends were special to me, I tried to invest every minute after work in the hospital. Every day after leaving the hospital, I visited one of the famous places in Turkey such as Ortaköy, Üsküdar, and, Eminönü.

The elective specialty is my memorable experience in which I participated with enthusiasm, whilst gaining more knowledge with hope and passion. Making more friends and exploring the beautiful world in Turkey, the locals were friendly and they always offered me help and support.