Hi to everyone who has been following along. It’s been a couple of weeks since I returned to the US, and I have finally digested my time in London.
To those who don’t remember, I am Nicholas Sawicki, and I interned in the Major Trauma and Emergency Department at King’s College Hospital. This experience has been more fulfilling and enriching than I originally expected. It all started with having a great supervisor (shout out Katie!) at King’s who introduced us around the department and was always quick to respond to any questions we had. She not only was actively checking in on the various projects we were working on but also ensured we were properly exploring what London had to offer in our free time. One of the first cultural differences I noticed was when we first met our supervisor. Her job title was an Emergency Department Consultant, and at first I was confused on what a “consultant” does. As it turns out, a consultant is the equivalent of an attending physician in the US. This was the first of various terminology differences between US and UK healthcare systems.
One of the things I was thankful for was working on meaningful projects that had a tangible impact on patient care. One of the first projects we were assigned was to continue rolling out a pilot program called PerEmpo, which focused on the synergy between a patient’s treatment plan and how a patient’s trauma and treatment affect the values that make them, them. This had me meet with patients in their rooms and simply talk with them. For many patients, they don’t have much to do while in the hospital, so when someone comes by willing to listen and talk with them, it makes their day. After talking with patients and learning about their values and how their trauma affects them, we follow up with a phone call to see how they are progressing with their goals and subgoals that help them get back to fulfilling their fundamental values. Being able to work on a project like this was both fulfilling and insightful on cross-cultural communication.
Beyond working on projects, I also had the privilege of attending weekly trainings and simulations with the foundation year docs. There, I gained insight into how the important life saving skills and knowledge that a doctor uses are taught. While the skills are the same as the ones taught in the US, an interesting difference was when attending a lecture on medical law. There, I was exposed to the dynamic between English medical law and how it empowers clinicians in specific scenarios to treat patients. Beyond the classroom, the monthly simulations also showed me how doctors train for various scenarios, from pediatric burns to unique cases. I am forever grateful that I was able to not only witness but be a part of this dynamic environment, although admittingly to a lot lesser degree.
This experience gave clarity on a day-to-day life and operation of a hospital in a major city. I was able to talk with and follow professionals in a field I want to work in. I was fortunate enough to work on projects I was passionate about and placed in a department full of caring and insightful individuals. For students contemplating on doing London Healthcare Internships, I will leave you with some advice. When filling out your placement, make sure you look into what departments are open to you at King’s. However, no matter where you end up placed, it is always important to approach the job with an open mind and adaptability. This way, you can get the most out of your internship and time in London.
