Garikai is a final year medical student at Swansea University with an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from St George’s University of London. During his time at medical school, Garikai has led the annual Welsh National Surgical Conference as President (2019) and Co-Founder, whilst Co-Chairing the Swansea Surgical Society committee in delivering various teaching and networking events for medical students and foundation trainees. He aims to pursue a career in plastic surgery with a primary interest in translational research and medical education.
How has the COVID-19 outbreak affected your life as a final year medical student?
The COVID-19 outbreak has undoubtedly caused much uncertainty across all levels of medical training. For final year medical students like myself, this uncertainty has manifested in various forms to closely reflect the rapidly changing nature of the pandemic. The arrival of COVID-19 saw the cancellation of long-awaited elective placements and graduation ceremonies, with talks of early registration for eligible students nationally. With these developments taking place in a matter of weeks, it’s fair to say that life as a final year medical student has progressed at a rate far quicker than I, or any of us, had ever anticipated. Despite the initial regret at the loss of these final-year milestones, my peers and I have also felt an immediate sense of responsibility and an overwhelming desire to support our colleagues on the front-line. As such, there have been inspiring examples of medical students coming together all over the UK to organise childcare for NHS workers, with many volunteering as healthcare assistants and administrative staff. In all, whilst the strain of COVID-19 on our healthcare system is unparalleled, I believe there’s equally never been a more appropriate and rewarding time to start our careers as doctors.
What is a typical day been like for you since the COVID-19 pandemic?
In light of the recent ban on international travel, I was fortunate enough to organise a research-based elective placement at my local hospital with the help of my very understanding and supportive clinical supervisors. This has allowed me to pursue my academic interests daily, whilst contributing to the response against Covid-19 as a volunteer healthcare assistant on weekends. Having completed many of my core assessments early in the year, the freedom to focus on various recreational interests has also been well received. Of note, I have thoroughly enjoyed the chance to shorten the long list of Netflix recommendations accrued over the course of my medical school career! Similarly, the opportunity to explore my passion for art through illustration has proved to be a much-needed source of daily relaxation; an activity which has aptly highlighted the value of practicing mindfulness during the current pandemic.
Although I feel that I no longer have a ‘typical day’ since the COVID-19 outbreak, overall, this experience has been an otherwise rewarding adjustment to my daily routine as a medical student. Ultimately, I am privileged to be able to support, and be part of, such an inspiring workforce during this time of unprecedented need.
Have you felt supported as a medical undergraduate since the COVID-19 pandemic?
Although this has been a particularly challenging time, I feel that various forms of support have been provided to help my fellow medical undergraduates and I to adjust to the rapidly changing situation. My medical school have been especially supportive from the onset as they were able to make flexible elective arrangements for the entire cohort, whilst acting as an ongoing source of academic and pastoral guidance. I am also sincerely grateful to the clinicians and academics across the country who have continued to deliver online medical teaching through webinars, podcasts and virtual lectures. These educational resources have been truly invaluable in the absence of face-to-face learning and will no doubt prove useful for the many of us due to start as F1’s earlier than anticipated. Furthermore, the overwhelming support from the community has not gone unnoticed such that it continues to motivate and give us a renewed sense of pride for the rewarding profession we have all chosen to embark on.