Affordable Medical Degree

By Masami Mustaza

RUSSIA here I come!

Ho Kit Voon is excited at the prospect of pursuing medicine in Russia.

“It’s going to be a whole new world and I’m gearing up to face all the possibilities, the opportunities and the challenges of being a medical student,” said Ho who is awaiting his SPM results.

The former student of Chong Hwa Independent High School, Kuala Lumpur, was one of 37 students who attended a seminar, jointly organised by Kursk State Medical University Russia and Magaram Enterprise at Hotel Armada, Petaling Jaya, yesterday.

The seminar was held to brief students and parents on the courses available at KSMU’s medical faculty, the duties of a doctor and medical education issues in Malaysia.

A third-year Malaysian student at KSMU, Premdas Baladas, also gave a talk on his experiences as a student in the university and in living in Russia.

The event was also attended by Magaram Enterprise chairman Datuk M. Varatharaju and its chief executive officer, V. Thayananthen, dean of KSMU’s medical faculty, Dr Ludmilla Severyanova, Malaysian Medical Association chairman Datuk Dr N. Athimulam and director of the Russian Centre for Science & Culture, Nikolai Sevenkov.

“I think I’ll adapt well to living in Russia. I’m adventurous when it comes to food and the experience of living away from home will help me to be more independent,” said 17-year-old Ho, adding that he is unsure of what to expect when he touches down.

“I’ll just go with the flow and see what life throws at me.”

Ho said he chose to study in Rusia because of the difficulties in getting a place locally.

Studying medicine is Ho’s dream and he’s adamant about pursuing it because he finds it a fascinating field of study, involving new techniques and technology to enhance health and increase a person’s life span.

For Ooi Shien Juin, 20, medicine offers a unique and challenging work environment, one that he much prefers to chasing riches in the corporate rat race.

“Of course a doctor’s salary is attractive too but more importantly, it is a stable job with a strong humanitarian role,” said Ooi, who recently completed his A-levels at Sunway University College.

“It will allow me to help the poor who have no access to medical care and enable them to attain a better quality of life.”

Ooi, who scored 10 As in his SPM, said he is confident he will be exposed to a conducive learning environment at KSMU.

“I did my homework by finding out about its’ courses, facilities and lecturers so I expect a good learning environment when I get there,” he said.

Ooi felt Russia was one of the more reasonably priced places to study medicine and that had been among his main considerations.

“I still haven’t bought clothes for Russia’s cold climate but I’ve been learning how to cook simple dishes so I can save money by not eating out often,” said Ooi.

“I haven’t really made many plans but I’ll definitely miss my parents, my mum’s cooking and Malaysia’s hot weather.”

MM says: Good luck, you’ve chosen a noble profession

(c) 2007 Malay Mail. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.