Journal honour for med ical student
A DURBAN medical student has been appointed as a member of the editorial team for an international journal.
Mohamed Hoosen Suleman, a fourth year medical student at the University of Kwazulu-natal’s (UKZN) Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, has been appointed as student editor for the International Journal of Medical Students.
Suleman, 24, and a neurosurgeon from UCT are the only South Africans in the editorial team consisting of 40 junior doctors and medical researchers from across the world.
The team will undertake peer reviews of scientific articles that are submitted to the journal.
“I am certainly honoured and at the same time humbled to serve on the team that will conduct peer reviews and assess research findings for their originality and relevance. We will screen articles for their innovation and impact on existing policies and procedures,” said Suleman.
He said his selection would allow him to develop the critical skills necessary to grow in the field of research.
He believes that he can broaden his mindset in understanding medicine better together with high standards and quality research.
Suleman’s first review for the journal has already been done in an article titled “An international comparison of medical school admission experiences”.
He said: “Conducting peer reviews of scientific articles must be rigorously and comprehensively applied. It is imperative that we ensure scientific scrutiny and critique of research findings in order to maintain high standards and quality research output.
“We ought to also ensure that medical researchers display the highest standards of professionalism and scientific rigour in an ethically robust manner. Integrity is a key element for advancement and academic development,” said Suleman.
He highlighted the need for ensuring that research findings were communicated clearly.
Suleman is also passionate about evidence-based medicine and how the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spark debates about vaccine safety and efficacy.
Suleman said he wished to specialise after completing his MBCHB degree.
“I would love to specialise in the medical field and perhaps go into surgery. During my clinical years of studying and training, I will be exposed to multiple surgical disciplines and I will have a better understanding of precisely which speciality I would like to pursue.
“I have taken a keen interest in universal health coverage and health equity. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of ensuring the equitable distribution of resources and that vulnerable populations should be prioritised for health care,” Suleman said.
He said as a health-care professional, he wanted to make a difference and get directly involved in helping less fortunate people.
Suleman is also a qualified pharmacist, graduating summa cum laude with top honours.
Last year, he was nominated as the best student researcher and best student innovator at UKZN.