International experiences

Hi! My name is Manisha and I am a medical student at King’s College London and on the committee for KCL Surgical Society. This summer I had the amazing opportunity to spend two weeks at Hospital del Mar under Professor Manuel Pera. I spent my first week with the vascular surgery team where I was able to see a wide variety of surgeries ranging from an abdominal aortic aneurysm to amputations of toes and below the knee. My second week was spent with the general surgery team where I was able to see many interesting surgeries and was able to scrub in on several occasions. It was a very welcoming atmosphere with most of the team translating words in Spanish to English and they took the time to answer all my questions. It was really eye opening to see the difference in the healthcare systems between Spain and the UK and I had some interesting debates with the surgeons about them. Along with an amazing surgical and clinical experience, the city of Barcelona was beautiful, and I had the opportunity to also explore many landmarks. Participating in this clerkship was an experience of a lifetime and one I will never forget!