London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Taking a year out from medical school isn't the usual path, but it was mandatory for me to meet the requirements of my medical school. I study at the University of Hong Kong where students are given one year to explore their passions related to medicine. This includes volunteering, doing research, or going on exchanges. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do and ended up chosing LSHTM's MSc in Public Health for Eye Care (PHEC). The course offered the perfect mix of skills for research and academic rigor, with a focus on real-world solutions for improving eye health globally.

During my clinical attachments, I witnessed the profound impact of eye conditions on patients' lives, speaking from personal experience and also from what I observed. I realised that addressing eye health isn't just about treating individual patients but also tackling systemic barriers like access, education, and prevention. Because of this, this MSc felt like the perfect way for me to expand my knowledge in this area and branch outside of learning about diseases from a physician's point of view. I wanted to explore how public health interventions could create lasting change on a population level. This course has solidified my interest in global health and eye care. It’s given me the tools to look beyond individual treatment and think about long-term, systemic solutions. In the future, I hope to combine clinical practice with public health work, focusing on initiatives that reduce blindness and improve access to eye care.

Why LSHTM?

LSHTM is renowned for its public health expertise, and the PHEC program is conducted under the International Centre for Eye Health, a great platform to build long lasting connections with experts in the field. LSHTM also has a very diverse student body from all over the world, bringing unique perspectives on healthcare challenges and solutions.

The course has been incredibly enriching. It started us off with a foundation for eye care and getting to know the basics of our own eye health system and teaching us the physical skills needed for research in the field. A standout moment for me was a workshop when I was researching Hong Kong's eye health system. I always thought that there would be lots of data on disease epidemiology but that turned out to be very far from the truth. It was eye-opening (pun intended) to see the necessity for research in this area and exciting to know that I will be contributing to this.

My priorities for intercalated study

1. Interest & relevance of goals – I wanted a course where I truly feel passionate about what I am learning and that it also aligns with helping me choose my speciality when I am working as a doctor. It is a bonus that I was able to study and learn from many others who have different professional and cultural backgrounds from me.
2. Adjusting to life – I wanted to find a course where it is based in a location that I am familiar with or have friends and family that are able to be with me for the year.
3. Life outside of school – I wanted to live in a vibrant city that is captivating itself but also allows me to travel around and explore different countries.

Beyond the academics, living in London is an experience in itself. I also have friends from secondary school and people I know from university studying in London, so it was a great way for us to reconnect in the year that I am here.

Things I could do differently...

If I could go back, I would learn to be on top of my workload and learn not to stress too much about deadlines as all professors here are approachable and will be more than happy to help you with any questions. Also, I’d learn to participate in more University of London activities, making new friends from other schools. I would also have planned my time better to explore more of London and its surrounding countries - it's a lot to take in, and I still cannot believe time flies by so quickly!

Taking this year out has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. It's broadened my understanding of public health, and connected me with incredible people from around the world. If you're considering intercalating, I'd say go for it! Sometimes, taking a step back is the best way to move forward.

• Discover MSc Public Health for Eye Care.
• Learn more about intercalating at LSHTM.
• Contact Whitney via our contact student ambassador page.