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CONTENTS
Editorial .................................................................................4 Message from the president ...............................................5 Department of Anatomy .....................................................6 Department of Physiology & Biochemistry .....................7 Board of Directors Photos ..................................................8 Vice President for Internal affairs .....................................10 Vice President for External affairs .....................................11 Secretary General ..............................................................12 Treasurer ..............................................................................13 Medical Education 0fficer .................................................14 Sexual & Reproductive Health Officer ............................15 Public Health Officer .........................................................16 Peer Education & Training Officer ....................................17 Professional & Research Exchange Officer - incomings .....18 Professional & Research Exchange 0fficer - outgoings........19 Human Rights & Peace Officer .......................................20 Leisure Officer ....................................................................21 Electives Officer ................................................................22 Supervising Council ..........................................................23 Surviving First Year ...........................................................24 My Exchange Experience ................................................25 Booklists & Study units ....................................................26
CREDITS DESIGN & LAYOUT: Gaivin Buhagiar WRITERS: MMSA Board of Directors, RItianne Buhagiar, Luca Gauci, Christina Sant Fournier Joanna Cachia PROOFREADING: Lara Caruana, Valentina Calleja
Medical School from a Gozitan Point of View .......29
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Gaivin Buhagiar PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
EDITORIAL I would like to start by congratulating you for making it into medicine. Freshers’ Week, is the start of your journey at University. This week is a wonderful opportunity for every student, especially freshers, as it helps to orient and immerse you into the student life. The first few weeks in medicine will be rather demanding as you will need to adjust to a radically different system, but these weeks also provide a great opportunity to make new friends and to explore University as well as to see what it has to offer. As you may know, Medicine is one of the most stressful and demanding courses in University. Despite this, MMSA is remarkably one of the most active associations on campus, mainly thanks to medical students through their competitive and hard working nature. These students continually help make the association larger and more relevant through their use of the platform provided by the association to further enrich their experience and expand their knowledge. My advice is to find something you enjoy doing as to elevate your experience as a student. MMSA is a large diverse organization; it is able to provide many opportunities in which everyone can participate and enjoy themselves. 4
As PRO, it is my responsibility to oversee the association’s overall image as well as its media, which is used to promote the association’s events to fellow medical students and other students and entities that might be interested in our events. Apart from media responsibilities, the PR office also produces a number of publications that give students the opportunity to publish articles in both MMSA lead publications as well as other local publications such as The Synapse, which is distributed amongst medical professionals all over the island. This booklet contains a short message from each member of MMSA’s Board of Directors, as well as a message from the heads of both the Anatomy and the Physiology Departments. In addition, there are a few articles by medical students about their different experiences in Medicine. Finally, this booklet will contain a small article about your study units and a quick overview of what books are recommended for each unit. I would like to wish you the best of luck for the upcoming years in the medical course and as medical professionals. Although Medicine may be difficult at times, I am sure you can overcome the challenges as many before you have done.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT I can’t really remember why I wanted to study Medicine; it might have been Grey’s Anatomy for all I know. What I can remember, however, is why I didn’t quit when things got challenging. It was around April before my third year exams, and I had been at Accident and Emergency with my grandfather for eleven hours. I remember this particular doctor who came to see my grandfather. I knew this guy. Well not so much knew. More like knew who he was dating. This guy was only a few years older than I was, so humble, so relatable and very easily me in a few years. This ‘me in a few years’ person hadn’t at that very moment done anything special. He had simply taken a decent history, was compassionate and took his job seriously. By doing so, he had made all the difference to my grandfather who was feeling overwhelmed and to me, the relative with enough medical background to let her mind wander to all the horrible possibilities, but not enough knowledge to think logically and reach a sensible conclusion. At that time I had been feeling demotivated, and although I was in the medical course, I couldn’t see myself ever getting to the point where I could help someone. I felt that getting to a place where I would one day make a difference in someone’s life is such a long way away, but it’s not. This is where the MMSA comes in. We are here to help you improve your medical education. We are here to help you step out of your comfort zone by helping you practice skills, not only those relating to your future medical career such as suturing, but also skills such as public speaking and leadership skills.
Victoria Camilleri
PRESIDENT
We are here to give you the opportunity to start making a difference now. The MMSA has so much to offer us as students, and no student’s experience is the same as any other within this association. My experience saw me give sexual health sessions to at least 500 students throughout the years; train people from all over the world in leadership skills; travel to places such as Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey for international conferences; scrub in for a 7 hour long surgery whilst spending a month on a medical exchange in Germany; make fantastic friends from all parts of the globe, thus giving me a better grasp on different cultures and meet and work with some exceptional people on things that I couldn’t have imagined lied within the capabilities of students. Lastly and most importantly, my experience allowed me to make honest and selfless friends. As the other ‘yous in a few years’ will tell you, medical school passes by very quickly. It will feel overwhelming at times. When it does, remember that whatever brave face your colleges might be putting on, everyone feels overwhelmed at times. As a person who’s felt overwhelmed a lot of times, I can tell you with confidence that the most important thing is to always treasure the people who are consistently there for you and to never be afraid to ask for help. I wish you the best of luck for the future and hope to get to chat with all of you soon. 5
Dr. Jean Calleja Agius
HEAD OF THE ANATOMY DEPARTMENT
Dear Students, Welcome to a brave new world! That is what I define being enrolled in a MD course, at the end of which you will become a doctor! At the moment you may still be basking in your glory for managing to get into the course! And I congratulate you over and over again upon that, because it is truly a great achievement! Mark my words - your life will never be the same from now on! The experience of both being a medical student, but above all, being a doctor, is truly the most amazing out of all professions. At this stage, you are too young in your careers to appreciate this, but a time will come when you will understand! When I was a student myself, one of our tutors told us that ‘we, as medical students, are the crème de la crème’. However, in my opinion and experience, it is not a matter of being the most ambitious or the most famous or the most intelligent for all that matter, in spite of the stereotype that society may impose on you. Being a medical student entails that both you and those who really care about you will have to do more sacrifices that what your friends in other courses and/or jobs will ever dream of. So far I may have sounded rather somber; however, not all is doom and gloom! Actually, being a medical student is really fun! It is during this course that most of you will grow from adolescents to young adults (at least physically!), and that long lasting relationships will be forged, including finding your soul mate or better half (it happened to me at least!).
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Make the most of the opportunities that are available during student life, such as going on electives abroad, taking part in extracurricular activities, and why not, the famous MMSA parties! You are really privileged in that, once you are now a medical student, you are automatically MMSA members. MMSA is one of the most active student organizations which, even in my time, was very ‘avant garde’. I myself was editor of ‘MURMUR’ and Officer in charge of Medical Education, and was the founder of the Standing Committee on Reproductive Health. So I do encourage you to get involved and make the most of it! It is vital to take care of your own wellbeing, particularly in this important, and memorable, time of your life. However, do not forget to study hard…. I mean, really hard. What is also different from your previous student days is that as a medical student, and a future doctor, you never really stop learning. Indeed this course lasts (only) 5 years, and you will be very relieved at the end of it to receive your medical degree. However, that is really only the beginning. A good professional doctor is one who continues studying and keeps abreast with current evidence. So you really should be open for learning all your life, and your tutors are not just your medical seniors, but indeed even your paramedical colleagues and patients. Although you will hopefully eventually have more knowledge than your average patients in terms of academia, it is your patients who are really your best tutors in terms of dealing with true-life issues. If you have the humility to accept that you are always ready to listen and learn, then you are on the right track of being a very good doctor. And irrespective of how famous, stressed or tired you may be, when dealing with colleagues and above all patients, always put yourselves in their shoes, and treat them with due respect, like you would want yourself or someone close to you to be treated by a doctor. So hail to our new fresh medical students! Welcome aboard! We are here to help you achieve your dreams and nurture your talents, but now it’s up to you to pull up your socks and work for it!
First and foremost, welcome to the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and more appropriately at this stage of your training, to the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, and also on behalf of my colleagues to the Department of Anatomy, both of which will be your home for the next two years for the duration of your studies that form part of your pre-clinical years. It is no slip of the pen that I have mentioned the fact that both physiology and anatomy will house you here for the next two years, in that I believe that these two fields of study will be your bedrock for your future clinical studies at Medical School as well as that of your Foundation years later on at Mater Dei. Another way of describing anatomy and physiology is the relationship between structure and function, and by the time you conclude your stay with us, you will no doubt be tired of hearing that “structure sub-serves function”. Consequently, it is going to be of prime importance that you first get to grips with how structures of the body are formed, from where and what, and thus how their particular make up or morphology will provide you with a wonderful insight on how they function. It is here that you may have some difficulty in appreciating how such organs or systems of the body operate in a normal way more so than when something has gone amiss to bring about a disease of one sort or another.
Profs. Richard Muscat
HEAD OF THE PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
Hence your two pre-clinical years here with us are mainly a means to provide you with the scientific basis of the workings of the body, and that includes the structure and function which form the very basis through which a correct diagnosis may be made. Over the years, we have modified the pre-clinical course to be in line with such aspirations, but as with the development of such things, we will require your feedback to help us evaluate how we may better tailor the course to provide the desired outcome. On this note, we all look forward to hosting you here with us for the next couple of years and hope that the experience for you all is a positive one. More to the point, we hope that the experience will match up to both our expectations, and hence put you in the driving seat to facilitate your training during your clinical years to enable you to become tomorrow’s doctors. Welcome Aboard.
However, the practice of medicine requires that you learn the art of diagnosis, or more aptly put, that you can make a differential diagnosis, as without such you will never be able to treat your patient. In effect, this is akin to a scientist who’s practice requires that of hypothesis building and testing, and without which no science can be done or at worst, may lead to bad science. 7
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Jordy Borg
VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Dear Freshers, Welcome to medical school! Your hard work has paid off and you are at the beginning of a new and exciting journey in your lives! It may be overwhelming at first, but worry not, we were all there and we have all managed, and so will you! I am Jordy, a fourth-year medical student, and I am honoured to be your Vice-President for Internal Affairs. My role within the MMSA mainly has to do with internal administration, so it includes taking care of the recruitment of coordinators and helpers of projects, overseeing the planning and coordination of our campaigns and collecting feedback from our members. Furthermore, I also keep in touch with all members of the Board of Directors to provide assistance in whatever they may need. Medical school should not only be about books, and within these five years ahead of you, I strongly recommend that you make the most of your time here, as it flies by so fast! It seems like yesterday that I walked into nALR for my first lecture of my first year! The MMSA provides a lot of opportunities for medical students to develop themselves in a holistic manner. Writing articles or designing with the PR Team, campaigning for a healthier society with SCOPH and SCORA, delivering sessions to children with SCOPET.omemorable (or unmemorable) parties with the Leisure Team, I am sure that the MMSA can offer something for every single one of you! 10
Meeting people from all over the world with the Exchanges Team, or helping organise memorable (or unmemorable) parties with the Leisure Team, I am sure that the MMSA can offer something for every single one of you! Throughout the past three years, the MMSA has enriched me with a lot of experiences that I will keep on cherishing, and I have accomplished things I never thought I would be able to. I have also had the opportunity to work with a lot of different people from different backgrounds and have forged long-lasting friendships. The MMSA has taken me places as well – with the help of the MMSA, I travelled to five different countries from two different continents so far, and got to know medical students from all over the world. In short – the MMSA has helped me grow. It has instilled in me values and given me knowledge that no book can ever provide. These will undoubtedly help me in my future career as a medical professional, where meeting and working with different people will be our day-to-day life. Therefore, I would like to see you make the most of your time in medical school, and seize the opportunities that come your way! As part of the MMSA Executive Board, we are here to help you throughout your journey within medical school, so in any case do not hesitate to contact me via Facebook or email on vpi@mmsa.org.mt. I would like to wish you the best of luck in your studies and I hope to meet all of you very soon!
Welcome to Med School! I cannot believe that it has already been three years since I was a fresher myself with a whole new adventure ahead of me. Freshers’ Week is a great start to your experience within medical school since you get to meet new people, learn more about the five years that are ahead of you, get loads of freebies and most importantly begin a wonderful journey. I will be honest with you in saying that the next five years will not be easy but will be satisfying and worthwhile. I would like to start by giving you a few tips on how to survive medical school, especially the upcoming few months. Over the next few days, you will be bombarded with new information, never ending book lists and a lot will be expected from you. You will naturally feel doubtful and confused but believe me in saying that each and every one of us has felt that way and you are all in the same boat. No matter how hard the first few months will be, remember that everyone has been through it and has also managed. Always ask your friends and older students for help, notes or tips. We will always be very willing to help out wherever possible. Your experience within medical school will naturally consist of lots of hours of studying, but do keep in mind that your experience as a medical student does not only consist of reading books and memorising information. On the contrary, it is extremely important to go out, make new friends and be as active as possible.
Samuel Attard
VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Over the past three years, the MMSA has given me an endless amount of opportunities through which I have done Medical Exchanges all over the world, organised and enjoyed parties, public health checks, public speaking and lots more. Life as a medical student is intense and hence it is extremely important to have a break every now and then. My role as Vice President for External affairs is to help out with the administration of the organisation, attend meetings with external entities, create international opportunities for our members and take care of certain collaborative events of the organisation. Apart from that I am always here to answer any questions that you have with regards to the course or the MMSA itself. Feel free to contact me via Facebook or email: vpe@mmsa.org.mt! To conclude, I would like to wish you the best of luck with your studies and your future. The next five years will fly by, so make sure that you make the most out of this experience! “Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.” - George Edward Woodberry Looking forward to meeting you all!
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Matthew Scicluna SECRETARY GENERAL
Every year we have three types of freshers: those who will be studying a course in University for the first time in their lives (group 1), those who are post-graduate students (group 2) and the international students (group 3). To group 1 I say congratulations on making it this far. I was in your place a few years ago and I can understand what you’ve been through. You can now look forward to 5 years in Medicine where you get to make new friends, take part in various MMSA-related events and maybe even study a bit. For those of you in group 2, you should pat yourself on the back for making it this far because that shows that you have courage and that you don’t give up so easily. Last but not least, to all international students, I welcome you to our beautiful small island. It must have taken some sort of sacrifice for you to leave home and come live here in a strange place, where you probably don’t know anyone. However, Medicine is the perfect place for you to make new friends. As a general message, things may seem to be difficult as you progress through the course and the MMSA may seem as an extra-curricular activity which you don’t need. However, the thing which helped me the most during these last 2 years was getting involved in most of the MMSA events, either as an active member or as a coordinator.
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Whenever I needed a break from all the studying, MMSA was always there to provide that, be it in the form of parties or health-related events (ex: World Diabetes Day). It gave me a sense of belonging as well as the courage to continue studying with an aim: that of becoming a good doctor. My various roles as MMSA’s Secretary General include being a legal representative for the association, sending you an email every month with a list of events that would be taking place in the near future and serving as a bridge between the students and the association. However, I think that the best part of my job is organizing TRD (Training, Resource and Development seminar). This is a whole weekend (28th-30th October) full of interactive sessions, activities (ex: laser tag, zorbing, etc.) and themedparties. The main aim of this event is to help all of you freshers to get accustomed with the MMSA and its different branches. I urge all of you to attend this live-in since it will help you become student activists within the MMSA. More information can be found on the Freshers’ Letter you received at home. Remember, the course of Medicine is not just about studying!! The MMSA can teach you skills such as suturing and taking blood pressure, skills that you will definitely need to know as a doctor, but which are not taught to you at University. Therefore, my advice to you is to start taking part in MMSA events from the very beginning. I look forward to meeting all of you during Freshers’ Week and during TRD!!
Hello Freshers!
Dylan Attard TREASURER
Welcome to MMSA! Welcome to the rest of your lives! And we cannot wait to make you a part of us! You have just enrolled into one of the most challenging courses that exist and this says a lot about who you are. Young, ambitious, intelligent and independent – If you don’t believe so, well, I’m sure it’s because you have failed to realise this yet.
The MMSA should be your main reference point to guide you throughout the way. As the Board of Directors, we are here to help you get the best out of this organisation. The opportunities that lie within are not matched anywhere else, and believe me on this one.
The MMSA needs you. The MMSA is fuelled by the energy of students like you. You are the driving force of this organisation, you are its oxygen. The MMSA is your catalyst. Speaking from my own experience, and probably from that of most students, I find that the MMSA gives back much more beautiful moments and experiences than the time you seek to invest in it. You should never hold back; just hop onto this crazy, funpacked journey and let your creativity run wild. This is what student activism is all about. You will find that being a part of the MMSA will be the most beautiful thing you will gain from all your years at University.
The Treasurer’s Office, as well as all the other offices and standing committees that lie within the MMSA, have different opportunities and benefits which you are all entitled to as medical students, as the MMSA members. Do not fail to make the best of out of them. Challenge your boundaries. Break down any walls you might have built in the past. This is your life. This is your future. And you’ve only got one chance to get to the top - GOOD LUCK! I look forward to meeting you throughout the year and truly wish you a year full of success and fun!
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Yvette Farrugia
MEDICAL EDUCATION OFFICER
Welcome Freshers, You’ve come a long way to reach this point but your journey has just begun and you’re in for one heck of a ride! You may be feeling a bit unsure and nervous but we’ve all been through it and we’ve got your back. The Standing Committee of Medical Education (SCOME) is here to provide support, facilitate your education process and to make the transition into university as easy as possible! During this week SCOME has organized talks, ice breakers and activities to help you feel more prepared for the upcoming years. You can even drop by our Book Fair to get advice from older students and a great deal on your school books. Getting so much information at one go may seem a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. All you need to do is find your own routine and your own method of balancing studies, medical school and life in a way that works for YOU. Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t drop everything for studies either. You can do this.
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As a short introduction, my name is Yvette and I am this year’s Medical Education Officer. Simply, SCOME is the link between faculty and the student body, filling in any gaps in the curriculum and helping the students directly by dealing with any problems. I was drawn to this standing committee as it gives students a voice and empowers them and it is through SCOME that I found my own voice. Personally, one of the best things about this course for me is the PEOPLE. The friends you will make are going to be extremely important and will help you get through any tough times you may face. MMSA has become a second family to me and can become the same for you.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you all on getting into Medicine. You have finally made it! You have succeeded in getting into one of the toughest courses University has to offer. It will be challenging, I cannot lie, but it will also be a rewarding experience. And the best part of it all is that throughout this new journey that you are about to embark, you will never be alone. Throughout the year you will realise that every student has a different approach to Medicine and how to tackle the stress our course offers. It is this difference that will unite you and help you build friendships which you will use as a support system later on. And what is a better way to meet new people, learn new things and have fun, than joining the MMSA? Within the MMSA I was not only able to form my group of friends, but also to develop personally and put into practice what I am learning. As future physicians, we are taught to make a difference in people’s lives and the MMSA has given me the opportunity to start doing it now. By being involved within the MMSA you get the opportunity to meet other people in different fields of study and learn from them, as well as teach them about their health. During my first year, I aimed to become involved within the MMSA as much as possible. I signed up for a number of different activities within the different standing committees and this gave me the opportunity to discover the different branches of MMSA which strive to cover as many diverse topics as possible. As time passed I realised that my niche seemed to be SCORA.
Sara Busuttil
SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OFFICER
The Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health including AIDS (SCORA) is aimed at making a change within our society when it comes to comprehensive sexual education, sexuality, gender identity, mental health, gender based violence and STIs. In Malta, sexual and reproductive health is unfortunately sometimes ignored due to the taboo that the topic carries. This is why this year we will be focusing on educating the general public as much as possible through our campaigns, events and outreaching, which we hope will eliminate any misconceptions and start changing the mentality of our community. The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one. – Malcolm Forbes There is so much information which we are able to deliver through our peer education sessions which is a big branch of SCORA, such as consent and coercion which is rarely talked about. Through our campaigning, we are able to promote having safe sex for the prevention of transmissible diseases and the acceptance of different genders within society.
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Nicholas Fava PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER
Through our various events held in different public areas such as Valletta, Sliema and even schools, you have the opportunity to practise tests that we will be doing as doctors every day such as monitoring blood pressure and blood glucose tests.
Get ready for another speech about how tough this year will be. Or rather, don’t. I welcome you to the first of 5 of the busiest, craziest and most fun years you will ever have. You already know how hard it will be so let me tell you why it’s all worth it. But first let me introduce myself.
Moreover, you will have the chance to interpret the results and put what you have learnt on a book to good use by explaining to the person sitting in front of you why their blood pressure is high and what they can do. Our biggest events such as World Diabetes Day and Health Fest are set down as MMSA traditions and more than a 100 students participate in these events.
My name is Nicholas Fava and I am the Public Health Officer in the MMSA. It’s a very bland and boring title, I know, but there is nothing boring in the work done by this area of the MMSA. Being the Public Health Officer puts me in charge of the Standing Committee on Public Health – SCOPH (yes I know, yet another abbreviation). Every area in the MMSA has its specialty and this standing committee is focused on interacting with the public. Whilst we tackle a number of topics that impact the health of the population as a whole such as obesity, diabetes and mental health, the aim of our campaigns is one and the same, to educate the public on how to take control of their lives and start leading a healthier lifestyle. Sounds nice and simple, doesn’t it? But try convincing a 50 year old that a daily beer does not go down well with his meds. SCOPH does not only aim to make a difference to the public however, it also aims to give medical students skills that they cannot acquire through books.
Still not convinced that it is worth spending time on SCOPH events? It is not only the public’s well-being that we are interested in, but also yours. Join us for a variety of events that make healthy living fun such as camping, canoeing and hiking under the stars. The MMSA will provide you with the opportunity to get out of the lecture hall and out and around. It will teach you how to deal with patients. It will give you memories, both small and big, which you will cherish for a long time. Sure, it will make your life busier but it will also make it worthwhile. So that is my advice to you! Study hard because that’s important but remember that there are lessons that you cannot learn from a book and as cheesy and mainstream as it may sound you only live once so make sure to live it to the full! I look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible! Sahha!
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Congratulations on making it to medical school! We all know how rewarding it feels to have made it so far, and now you can finally get some sleep! As a medical student myself, I can assure you these next five years will undoubtedly be the best few years of your lives. My one piece of advice first and foremost is not to limit yourself. Medical school is so much more than the countless lectures and tutorials. The academic aspect can be very daunting and you’ll need a way to burn all that stress. That’s where the MMSA comes in! As a fresher, I knew I wanted to involve myself in the MMSA and to make it part of my experience here in University, and I urge you all to do the same. My current role is that of Peer Education & Training Officer, head of the Standing Committee on Peer Education & Training (SCOPET), one of the five standing committees of the MMSA. As the name suggests, we tackle both peer education and training. Our peer education activities involve medical students giving non-formal sessions to children and adolescents in schools and other institutions around Malta on important topics like fitness and nutrition, anti-smoking, anti-bullying and many more. This way, our students develop valuable skills while helping young generations shape their futures in a positive manner. The other aspect, training, involves sessions given to medical students by medical students themselves on topics such as public speaking, presentation skills etc.
Miguel Fenech
PEER EDUCATION & TRAINING OFFICER
It is a way to grow and develop your character in a holistic way as you progress through your academic careers, by learning values which you will definitely need for the future. However, the MMSA goes beyond that. So far, this organisation has opened countless doors for me and I owe so much to it. As I write this, I am still recovering from the jet lag I acquired after traveling to Mexico with the MMSA for an international medical conference. Above all, this organisation has taught me valuable skills that helped me grow into the person I am today. I’ve become more focused and much better with time management since I have to juggle my academic work with MMSA responsibilities. The MMSA is like a huge second family, there’s space for everyone! It may take a while to figure out how everything works, but hang in there, you’ll get used to it in no time. If you’re ever interested in knowing more about what SCOPET does, you can always contact our team on scopet@mmsa. org.mt. Also look out for our Peer Education Weekend which is planned for next February, a three-day workshop full of activities and sessions to get you all ready to be peer educators yourselves! If you ever need any other help whatsoever, don’t hesitate to speak to me or anyone in the board. We’re here to help! 17
Luke Abela
PROFESSIONAL & RESEARCH EXCHANGE OFFICER INCOMINGS
Welcome to med school! This will surely be an eventful time in your life and you should make sure to make the most of it. My name is Luke and I am the Professional and Research Exchange Officer for Incomings for the term ‘16-’17. The University experience involves much more than studying and obtaining your degree, as you will have many other extracurricular opportunities which will broaden your horizons. University is a great place to get to know new people, especially when working in a team. The MMSA has made my stay in University much more fun and interesting. Apart from getting to know new people and having the opportunity to work with a lot of talented individuals, the MMSA has provided me and many other students with countless exchange opportunities abroad. Each summer, we provide our students with many clinical and research exchange opportunities in many different countries around the world.
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Speaking from experience, going on an exchange is something which everyone studying at University should do at least once, since it is such an enriching experience, both academically as well as socially. Apart from sending Maltese students on exchanges, the MMSA also hosts many foreign students throughout the year, mostly during the summer months. Although hosting the students involves a lot of planning and work, it is even more rewarding. I highly recommend getting involved in the organisation and trying to make the most out of the whole University experience since I truly believe that the MMSA can make your next five years unforgettable!
Hello Freshers! Congratulations on getting into the Medical course, all your hard work has paid off! As you might know, this course is quite challenging, but don’t worry, the MMSA is here to guide you through the next few years of your life! As some of you might know, the MMSA is part of a larger organisation, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association (IFMSA). This association provides a platform through which medical students from all over the world can get to know each other and organise exchanges. Exchanges are a great opportunity for us medical students; not only do they improve our medical education by allowing us to experience life in different hospitals and universities around the world, but also because by providing us with a unique and different perspective on other cultures.
Claire Attard
PROFESSIONAL & RESEARCH EXCHANGE OFFICER OUTGOINGS
As Professional and Research Exchange Officer for Outgoings (PREO-Out), it is my responsibility to help you apply for exchanges. Applications are out in December but do not hesitate to contact me before if you have any queries or require further information about these opportunities on neo.nore-out@mmsa.org.mt. During the year, the MMSA organises many events, so take a break from your studies and participate! It is a great way to get to know other medical students, become an active MMSA member and benefit from these exchange opportunities! Good luck for the upcoming year! I look forward to seeing you around,
Within the IFMSA, there are two types of exchanges, professional and research. The Standing Committee for Professional Exchanges (SCOPE) is responsible for students who opt to go on professional (clinical) exchanges in hospitals and the Standing Committee for Research Exchanges (SCORE) is responsible for students who prefer to work on a research project.
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Emma Camilleri
HUMAN RIGHTS & PEACE OFFICER
Dear Freshers, Welcome to Medicine and the beginning of what will be a fantastic first year! This moment marks the end of one journey in education and the start of a lifelong journey in Medicine. It is also the start of your journey within the MMSA. Do not be held back by the thought that the course will take up all your time. As you come to learn about the ins and outs of medical school, the sheer variety of our events and the work put in by your fellow MMSA members, you will realise that all it takes is a little time management. So where does SCORP fit into this? The Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace is focused on dedicating its time, energy and knowledge for the benefit of our fellow medical & University students as well as the general public. We take on the responsibility to fight for those who are most often forgotten. We still maintain our link with health but work on a much broader level taking into account the complete physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of those we work for.
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Our main focuses this year include mental health, human rights and their applicability both locally and internationally, as well as voluntary work, fundraising and even some training in disaster medicine situations. I wholeheartedly encourage you to grasp every opportunity that comes your way and not to focus only on the direct aspects of our course itself. The skills and experiences gained by our members both in Malta and internationally are ones which you will never find within the pages of your text books. Remember we all once started out in the exact same place as you all, so persevere & hang in there! My door is always open, whether you need some advice on how best to study or on how to get more involved in that event that caught your eye. I hope to see you participating in our events! Keep in Touch.
The LEISURE section of the MMSA is just what it sounds like: the section of the MMSA tasked with making your 5 years bearable and fun! We organise parties throughout the whole year, starting with our start of summer party and ending with our infamous, 1400+ guests Ballo – the largest event on campus! Everyone deserves time to relax and unwind after weeks of lectures, exams and study, and that is why this year’s theme is #LEISURETIME! With Raves, After-exams, TRD nights and more, our parties are the best place to have a few drinks (or more!), meet up with your year’s colleagues and even make new friends from other years! Even better, our events attract a number of guests from all over University creating the perfect crowd for unforgettable memories!
Jurgen Gatt
LEISURE OFFICER
Roles include selling tickets, helping out in marketing as well as during the event, from spraying tequila guns and champagne to passing around glowsticks and vodkafilled watermelons! With a highly spirited team, working with MMSA-Leisure is highly enjoyable and post event satisfaction is guaranteed! We highly encourage new members to get involved in the #LEISURETIME project – for more information simply contact any one of our team members! See you around!
This year’s leisure team has already organised 2 top notch events: Lift Off, attracting more than 500 guests at Gianpula Rooftop as well as the Biggest Boat Party ever held on campus, featuring Sound Salon’s heading DJ StefB and Uno Stars’ resident DJ JJOY! Our next huge event will be the Freshers’ Rave, jointly organised by the newly created Faculty of SOUND! We are constantly looking for new members to add to our team!
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Cedric Demicoli
ELECTIVES OFFICER
Hello Freshers! First of all welcome to MD! It’s been tough and it’s only going to get tougher, so prepare to spend the next five years at home working non-stop with only books and hurriedly scribbled notes as company. Don’t worry, I’m only joking of course, and although the going does get tough sometimes, I really urge you to enjoy your time here at University and throughout this course by making new friends, participating in events, studying for exams, going for an exchange or elective and overall just having a great 5 years. We here at MMSA are here to help you achieve all this and to also provide a supporting net for everyone so that each and every one of you will have an experience that you will never forget. Now, maybe you’re saying, this is all a bunch of fancy words and empty promises. Well, I beg to differ. The MMSA and its standing committees organise a large number of events throughout the year. There will be ample space for everyone to find their own niche and grow in it. From health fests to parties, from teaching children the wonders of medicine to spreading awareness about various conditions, from welcoming students who are spending their summer months here in Malta to helping ease the process for local students going abroad.
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There is a myriad of possibilities for those willing to look hard enough, and to tell you the truth you don’t have to look very hard: we try to keep everyone updated. Now, on to what I do in MMSA. Basically, as the name implies, I take care of elective students. Let’s start with a very basic question, one which I’m very frequently asked: What are Electives? Exchanges enable you to visit other countries in an IFMSA experience through the amount of points you have been awarded according to how much you participated in MMSA events. Electives also involve going to another country, but instead of relying on the amount of points, it relies on payment. Basically, you pay to go to other hospitals in other countries and to have a medical experience there. So my job, together with that of my wonderful team, is to work hand in hand with the Faculty of Medicine in Mater Dei and help out with the students coming to Malta, as well as to provide local students such as yourselves with the information you seek about elective availability abroad. That’s basically it. It’s oversimplified of course, but that’s the gist of what I do. To conclude, I just want to say one thing: if any of you encounter any difficulty throughout your years in the medical course, do not hesitate to contact any member of the MMSA. We are here to help you. And with that said, I sign off. See you at the parties! And the other events, obviously.
Bader Ali Bernice Farrugia Jean Claude Scicluna Hi All :) We would like to welcome you into Medical school! But above all, it’s a pleasure to have you all as part of our beloved association, the MMSA. In the coming weeks, you are going to be overloaded with information, but it will all make sense in due time :) So what exactly is the supervising council? A number of people don’t know exactly what the role entails since most of our work is behind the scenes. Basically we are there to safeguard equality and promote transparency, both within the board of directors and with all the student body, guaranteeing that decisions are taken in the best interest of the medical student. We seek faults in our team so as to promptly work on them assertively. Our role is to proactively and objectively ensure that the members of our association are doing what they’re meant to be doing. Another one of our pillars is to ensure fairness in all standing committees and provide equal opportunities both locally and internationally.
SUPERVISING COUNCIL
In addition, we are the ‘go-to’ people in case someone needs to report an injustice (even anonymously) or something similar that is hindering the teamwork and framework of the association. Supco will investigate the issue, seek the truth and resolve the situation, putting the medical student in the forefront of our actions and decisions. If you have any queries on the above or anything in general, we’d love to help you, and you can easily come up to us both face to face, contact us via Facebook or by sending us an email on supco@ mmsa.org.mt. We wish you luck in your prospective studies and we look forward to getting to know you :)
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Christina Sant Fournier
THIRD YEAR STUDENT
SURVIVING FIRST YEAR Welcome to medical school! You’ve all worked really hard to get here so a big congratulations for getting a step closer to realising your goal! You might be experiencing a whole array of different emotions, as I remember that is how I felt this time last year. I was excited to start my dream course and to be part of a new family. However at the same time, I was a bit intimidated by all that I had heard before entering the course, such as the large amount there is to study, the competition that is associated with this course, the exams, etc. Despite all my initial worries, I got through this year and I must say it was a great one. So I am writing this article to give you a few tips which might help you reduce your stress levels. The most important skill which will get you through this year is time management, which I must admit I am still working on myself. There is a lot of studying involved and it might get a bit overwhelming; therefore, it’s good to try to keep updated as much as possible with lectures.
Having said this, make sure that you don’t stress out too much by burying yourself in books and notes for the next 9 months. Take a break, go out and have fun, and don’t stop any extracurricular activities which you enjoy. This will really help you relieve some stress and when looking back at the end of the year you will definitely have no regrets. It’s all a question of balancing your time well. Something which I truly believe in is that this journey will be a competitive one only if you allow it to be. Remember that everyone is in the same boat; help each other out, support each other, share notes, encourage each other and you will make this experience so much easier for yourself and others. Last year the help I received from my friends in my year and the years above me was really encouraging. Don’t forget that you will be working with the people around you in the future so it’s good to build positive relationships. One last thing that you should avoid is comparing yourself to other people. I remember that whenever I did this, it always resulted in me feeling incapable. Remember that everyone studies at their own pace using their own methods. Believe in yourself, be confident, work hard and you will get through your first year, I assure you. To conclude, I would just like to warn you that during your first week you will be overloaded with new information. But don’t worry, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask me or anyone else you may know or feel comfortable with. You all form part of our family now and we are all willing to help out in any way we can.
Good luck and enjoy the year ahead! 24
MY EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE Welcome to Med School! During the next five years, you will realise that there is more to being a medical student than just studying. When I heard about the exchanges programme in my first year, I set myself the goal of attending at least one exchange. I worked very hard within MMSA to do so until, a year and a half later, my dream came true! I rated my choice of countries on the quality of the social program and on what languages are spoken. When I was chosen to go to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, I just couldn’t believe it! I was beyond happy! Also, I knew that this was going to be my first time abroad alone. I was nervous at the thought of spending a whole month so far away from home, away from my family and friends. However, I took this as a challenge and I was really looking forward to this new experience. The first day finally arrived! The local hosts were very nice. They picked me up from the airport, showed me around and made me feel comfortable. But, as I had expected, I found it very difficult to adjust to my new life. I spent the first two days homesick. My mind was telling me to leave. The weather was horrible, our dormitories were far from a 5-star hotel and I needed to make new friends really quickly! During the first week, the locals couldn’t take us sightseeing because they had exams. So, with the help of my GPS, I decided to go and have a look around myself. I asked the other incoming students if they wanted to join me and it was quite a success! I took this opportunity to make new friends.
Luca Gauci
THIRD YEAR STUDENT
My clinical attachment throughout the month was in an emergency hospital for children. I came face-to-face with many sick children and interesting cases. Being my first time in a clinical attachment, I feel that I did quite well. The doctors translated and explained everything to me and we discussed cases together. I was also given the opportunity to examine patients under supervision. The month was jampacked with activities from paediatric hospital attachments to visiting dozens of museums, parks and cities. In the weekends, we had national trips with all the incomings of Romania. The list of places we visited is endless. My favourite memory is when we visited Dracula’s castle in Bran and when we climbed the Ciucas mountains. Looking back, I feel that Romania has fulfilled most of my expectations. I miss the people I met throughout this experience. I shall cherish every single second of July 2016, forever! Last but not least, I strongly encourage you to be active members within MMSA. You are also part of this big family! Through your involvement, you will grow in many aspects and gain skills which are useful for your journey.
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Joanna Cauchi
THIRD YEAR STUDENT
Anatomy Suggestions for the anatomy component of Study Units MDS 1004, MDS 1008, MDS 1005, MDS 1007, MDS 1029.
BOOK LISTS & STUDY UNITS Welcome to medical school! Congratulations for getting through such a hardworking journey and making it here! I can assure you that you have just embarked on a much more interesting and rewarding journey. I suggest that you take this journey one step at a time and to try and appreciate it. Although starting university and adjusting to your new lifestyle can feel overwhelming at first, I am very sure that you can all make it to graduation day and enjoy yourselves in the process! Below is a list of the suggested textbooks paired with the study units concerned and a personal opinion on the choice of books. May I remind you that buying all the books mentioned below is not necessary at all. Notes taken during class coupled with the lecture notes provided are just as valuable. I suggest that you invest wisely; some ebooks are convenient enough to study from, whilst others can be used to help you compare similar books and find your preferred book before buying a hardcopy of it. In addition, you can buy your books at a cheaper price during Fresher’s Week from the MMSA Book Fair stand, at the Biomedical Sciences building.
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Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions ISBN 9781451110326 Gray’s Anatomy for Students ISBN 9780702051319 In addition to Snell’s detailed description of clinical anatomy, Snell’s clinical boxes in blue are very useful when it comes to preparing for the Critical Thinking Sessions (CTSs). On the other hand, Gray’s Anatomy is known better for its clearly illustrated, colour coded diagrams. It is suggested to get a hardcopy of the book that you prefer studying from whilst keeping a softcopy of the other book as a reference. Imaging Atlas of Human Anatomy ISBN 9780723434573 McMinn’s Clinical Atlas of Human Anatomy ISBN 9780723436973 Rohen’s Colour Atlas of Anatomy ISBN 9781609137854 Gran’ts Atlas of Anatomy ISBN 9781451110319 Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy ISBN 9781455704187
Atlases are mostly used by students to familiarise themselves with dissection anatomy specimens and to prepare for the practical exams. Some students also use an atlas as an extra reference whilst reading about an anatomical region from Snell’s or Gray’s. McMinn’s Clinical Atlas is the most popular atlas amongst medical students. Interactive and user-friendly anatomy websites include:
www.anatomyzone.com www.teachmeanatomy.info www.instantanatomy.net
Histology Wheather’s Functional Histology ISBN 9780702047473 Usually, lecture notes provided by lecturers are enough to cover the material that one needs to know. However, the histology figures of the book may be used as a study supplement for the practical exam.
Physiology Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology ISBN 9781416045748 Pocket Companion to Guyton & Hall’s Physiology ISBN 9781416054511 Costanzo – Physiology ISBN 9780781798761 The above three books are most commonly recommended for the physiology component of modules MDS 1005 and MDS 1007. While Guyton and Hall gives a broad detailed overview of the topics concerned, Costanzo is more straightforward and concise. Both books are equally good study guides. It is suggested to get a copy of either one of them according to your preferences.
Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts (Richard E. Klabunde) ISBN 9781451113846 Berne and Levy Physiology ISBN 9780323045827 The above two books, especially Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts, are usually recommended for MDS 1004. Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts provides excellent concise explanations of cardiovascular physiology topics, whilst Berne and Levy is better known for its ECG explanations and illustrations. Renal Physiology – The Essentials ISBN 9781451173383 May be used in MDS 1007, although Guyton and Hall and Costanzo cover the topic well enough. Israeli’s Mechanism in Haematology ISBN 9780443074349 Suggested as a supplementary book in MDS 1010. Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology ISBN 9780071780032 Mostly used as a reference book.
Biochemistry Suggested for modules MDS 1021 and MDS 1026. Marks’ Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach ISBN 9781608315727 Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry ISBN 9781451175622 The lecture notes provided are sufficient most of the time. However, “The Waiting Room” sections in Marks’ help to consolidate the material learned in class. Lippincott’s is slightly more detailed than the lecture notes.
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Pathology Muir’s Textbook of Pathology ISBN 9781444184976 Robbin’s Textbook of Pathology ISBN 9781437717815 Pocket Companion to Robbin’s & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease ISBN 9781416054542 Pathology Secrets Third Edition ISBN 9780323055949 The bulk of pathology will be covered in MDS 1022. More often than not, lecture notes provided and notes taken during class will be enough. Lecturers tend to recommend Robbin’s as a reference book.
Embryology Langman’s Medical Embryology ISBN 9781451144611 Larsen’s Human Embryology ISBN 9780443068119 Most of the time, lecture notes and notes taken during class are enough. However, if you wish to use a reference book, Langman’s is the recommended one.
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STUDY UNITS:
MEDICAL SCHOOL FROM A GOZITAN POINT OF VIEW Well, the journey has begun and I can assure you that it has its ups and downs, but in the end it will be a thrilling ride! The best tip I could give you right now is not to feel overwhelmed by the many opinions and comments people make about this course! Do not feel disheartened by what you hear, and this holds true especially for Gozitan students! Being a Gozitan, I can say that leaving home and heading to University for the first time is one of life’s biggest milestones. It marks the beginning of adulthood and independence. It is an exciting time, but it can seem nerve-wracking and stressful. Everyone finds it daunting, but with some careful preparation, leaving the nest can be as stress-free as possible! Here are some suggestions: Make sure you divide the responsibilities a flat brings equally between you and your flatmates from the very beginning so as to avoid any unnecessary arguments. Learn to cook - A pot noodles and toast may be cheap but get boring pretty quickly, and will leave you missing home even more. Try to learn to make a few tasty but simple meals before you leave home, so you can re-create them in your own kitchen. As there’s a fridge in your room, you can batch cook and chill in portions, giving you a supply of homemade ready meals.
Ritianne Buhagiar FOURTH YEAR STUDENT
On the other hand, arm yourself with earplugs so that no one spoils your sweet dreams (be it a jackhammer or cars speeding past your window!) Make sure you apply for the renting grant offered by the government, for which you can pick up any necessary documentation from the Ministry for Gozo. Make sure you do not procrastinate and leave everything for tomorrow! Devise a timetable so as to plan the time you will spend on studying, cleaning, and trips to Gozo, as well as your time spent with friends. Time management is the key to success! Balance your time between home and University: It is tempting to call home every time you are unsure of something or are feeling a bit lonely. While there is nothing wrong with seeking family support when you need it, try to deal with problems yourself or with friends before you pick up the phone. Until you try, you won’t know what you’re capable of achieving. If you try and then find you can’t deal with something, your family will still be there to support you afterwards. In case of any difficulties, do not hesitate to ask older students who are always willing to help.
Your mum will not be there to wash your plate! Make sure you clean after yourself so as to avoid any unwanted furry friends sharing your flat!! Be equipped with earphones so as not to bother others with your loud music whilst they are working.
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