Pathway to becoming a doctor through IMU Foundation in Science

ON 28 March 2019, a group of 28 students and 3 lecturers from for the International Medical University’s (IMU) Foundation in Science (FiS) participated in a field trip to IMU Clinical Campus Seremban. The Clinical Campus is located next to Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar in Seremban, a town in the capital of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

This initiative or field trip would not have been made possible without the cooperation of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Prof Nazimah, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Development from School of Medicine, and lecturers for the FiS.

The purpose of this field trip is to expose the FiS students to the medical profession and the healthcare environment.

The itinerary of the day begun with warm welcome by the members of SRC. Senior members of SRC shared their experiences and knowledge acquired from healthcare programmes that they are currently pursuing in IMU and briefed their juniors who are the participants on medical procedures, tools and equipment that they are going to use in the hands-on sessions later in the day.

Following lunch was a warm welcome speech by Prof Nazimah, who shared her experiences of being in the medical field.

This was followed by a tour to the Orthopedics, Peadiatrics and Emergency wards.

Soon after, participants were placed into groups of four to five members, and each group took turns to role play in different medical scenarios.

The role plays include procedures in making the vein more visible and performing venipuncture to take blood from a patient’s forearm, and procedures in regulating oxygen equipment and administrating oxygen to the patient.

One of the student, Alysia said that she was looking forward to the trip weeks ahead. During the trip, she was exhilarated to be given such opportunities.

The participants, who are mostly keen to pursue their MBBS programme at IMU, said that they personally feel that these activities are an excellent exposure for them.

Overall, sharing of knowledge, handson experiences, and laughter have strengthened bonds between members of SRC and the students from FIS 218 intake who have participated in this field trip.

Also, this field trip has further spurred up the participants’ interest toward practicing in healthcare, as the medical learning was simplified by experienced peers, none other than the student representatives who are currently studying healthcare programmes at IMU.

The IMU Foundation in Science is the preferred foundation for entry into any of the IMU’s undergraduate degree programmes (local degrees and credit transfer options).

It provides the academic preparation required for admission into a sciencerelated degree.

Students will be equipped with strong fundamental knowledge and skills to pursue study in the areas of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health sciences.

The programme aims to prepare students academically and holistically for their undergraduate studies in IMU.

With that aim in mind, the teaching methodology and assessment methods employed in Foundation in Science are aligned to the methodologies used in the undergraduate programmes.

Students benefit from these as it gives them early exposure and a head start to the undergraduate learning environment.

The Foundation in Science in IMU is an important foundation year which aims to prepare students to be independent learners.

The current IMU Foundation in Science team consists of carefully selected, well qualified and experienced staff with specific skill sets that make them ideal pre-university level academicians.

The team have a clear understanding of subsequent undergraduate degree progamme requirements and are assisted in this regard by degree level academics who also advise the students on their available undergraduate pathways while in foundation.

The Foundation in Science, IMU has three intakes a year, April, July and September.

These convenient start dates will enable smooth transition into the preferred degree courses that students are interested in, upon successful completion of the programme.

For more information, please refer to www.imu.edu.my or email: start@imu. edu.my or call IMU at 03 – 2731 7272.