London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Hi, my name is Silvia and I am a general practitioner (GP) in Italy with special interest in tropical diseases and public health.

I chose to study medicine at university because I strongly believe that health as a human right must be universally recognised and everyone in every part of the world should have access to health services. With this purpose in mind, after university I attended specific courses about global health and I went deeper in the study of infectious and neglected diseases.

During my job as a GP, I also took part in medical projects abroad. In particular I was involved in medical expeditions in low-income countries and continents such as in India, Africa and South America. During these experiences I realised the aim of my career path: to improve primary health care globally in order to reach everyone, even in the most remote areas. At the same time, I understood that to achieve this ambitious goal I needed a deeper knowledge about public health systems in low-income countries and tropical diseases. In this setting, the Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (DTM&H) course at LSHTM turned out to be the game changer of my career.

DTM&H programme: what I have learnt

Attending this course was a real privilege from my perspective. It meant a lot to me and it gave me the basis of my future career.

I had the opportunity to spend three months in a very inspiring setting, in one of the most prestigious schools in the world, in contact with other physicians from different countries and various backgrounds.

Sharing in-person lectures with other colleagues from everywhere in the world was really exciting and constructive. It allowed me to broaden my mind and to have a wider point of view on the main topics we dealt with. The scientific level of the lessons was particularly high and what I appreciated most was the dedication of our professors, their passionate teaching methods and the focus of the course on clinical research. All lectures were very comprehensive and we had the opportunity to listen to some of the most experienced clinicians in the world involved in projects in the field, which was really inspirational and fascinating.

Another aspect I really enjoyed about the course was the laboratory practice. This section of the DTM&H programme, that I really appreciated, was a detailed and intensive study of the main parasites - using the microscope all together was both exciting and stimulating!

Learning and fun!

Moreover, don't underestimate the experience of living in London for three months! It was thrilling to spend everyday life with classmates, sharing with them the incredible opportunities that this amazing city offers! The strong relationship that grows between all your classmates is something that will never be forgotten and it was really exciting to organise different activities together including: trips to the cinema/ theatre, walking in the city, treks, sport matches, barbecue evenings or simply chatting and chilling out after school.

In addition to this, the school organised many interesting meetings and events after lectures too, where we had the possibility to get to know each other better and to strengthen the relationship with our brilliant professors.

My future after DTM&H course

So, I decided to put into practice what I had learnt at LSHTM and I left for a medical project in Kenya. The knowledge I acquired from the School whilst in London helped me a lot in this setting: this made me even more satisfied and proud about the course I chose. Currently I am also involved in offering free medical services to migrant patients in Italy and the skills I gained during the DTM&H course played a fundamental role also in this experience. In the future I hope to continue to expand my studies and to improve my work in the field. In particular I am now focusing on public health and hygiene, the topics that I enjoyed most during the course.

In conclusion, deciding to study at LSHTM was the best choice of my life. It broadened my horizons and allowed me to explore topics that I had never explored before. In addition to this, it improved my medical skills and pushed me to go on with my studies.

For all these reasons I would suggest to every student to apply for DTM&H, it will be one of the most incredible experiences in your life and it will be really worth it!

• Learn more about the Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
• Explore all short courses at LSHTM.