Exchange report - incoming students
Home university: Hanoi Medical University
Study programme: Medicine
Exchange programme: INK
Semester: Spring semester 2012/2013
Name: Huy Pham Ngoc
Email address: doxpham@gmail.com

Arrival and registration

I had a long flight lasting nearly twenty hours and arrived in Arlanda airport at night. Then I headed to the city central station where I met the pick-up person from KI who I contacted before leaving home. He guided me to my accommodation and told me a lot about everything in Stockholm. I was notified about the introduction day but I could not make it because of the time mismatching. I came to the student health center for the MRSA test two days after arrival and receive the result in the following week. Everything worked smoothly as I expected.

Acommendation

I got a place in Jagargatan 20 through Univeristy Accomodation Center. It was a small private room with shared kitchen, living room, toilet, etc that were in very good standard; and understandably that accompanied with very high cost. I made friends with many other students from different parts of the world who stayed in the same building, all of them were in study and research at Karolinska.

Leisure time and social activities

I got information about all the events held by Student Union and Global Friends through emails. I took part in several activities that were very interesting. Scandinavia itself was marverlous and lively in white snow and cold weather, I was excited about walking on the streets seeing the city life moving and visiting peaceful Swedish villages outside of Stockholm. Swedish were friendly and I became friends with many people. I love this beautiful snowland!
Whitehavenbech, Whitsundays.

Pre-departure

I always think exchange study is an amazing opportunity to gain new knowledge, discover the difference in medicine and education between countries in addition to experience a new life. Sweden is one of the most developed countries in the world and its Karolinska Institutet is well known for the excellence in educating health care professionals. Therefore, I decided to go on exchange study at Karolinska Institutet. I got all necessary information regarding the study and life in Sweden before departure through Karolinska and my home university so I had a good preparation. 

Courses during the exchange period

ELAXX6 : Surgery 1
I went through four departments in a world class surgical hospital. I spent most of my clinical time examining patients, assisting surgeons in operating theater and fortunateIy I was trusted to do some suturing. Besides, there were several lectures on different topics that were in very good quality. With the guidance from my supervisor I was really attracted to Evidence-Based Medicine as through it I could do searching to find the answer for my querries, to update latest knowledge and information. It was is a bit disapoiting when I did not attend any neurological surgery that is the field I expect to specialize in the future.
2EE090 : Emergency Medicine
I went through four departments in a world class surgical hospital. I spent most of my clinical time examining patients, assisting surgeons in operating theater and fortunateIy I was trusted to do some suturing. Besides, there were several lectures on different topics that were in very good quality. With the guidance from my supervisor I was really attracted to Evidence-Based Medicine as through it I could do searching to find the answer for my querries, to update latest knowledge and information. It was is a bit disapoiting when I did not attend any neurological surgery that is the field I expect to specialize in the future.

Summary

The journey was a great experience!
Det stora barriärrevet.

Language and Culture

Due to the time limitation I did not participate in any Swedish language course.

Studies in general

Studying at Karolinska is wonderful! Karolinska created a reliable learning environment. The teachers worked very professionally and seriously, that made students always keep responsbility in mind. On the other hand, they were very friendly and willing to support students to accomplish study goals anytime. The course were organized perfectly with various clinical and theoretical activities. There were several components in the curriculum that are essential, for example, Evidence-Based Medicine, but not included in my programe in my home university so I could develop knowledge and skill more comprehensively. There were not as many patients as in Vietnam but doctors and students had better analysis and explaination so everyone learn from experience effectively. The library with extensive resourses accessable to every student was my favourite place and I spent lots of time reading there. I gained lots of new medical knowledge as well as experienced Sweden’s medicine as a caregiver.

På skolans campus Gardens Point.