NUMed’s Pre-Med Workshop 2023 Makes an Inspiring Comeback

After a five-year hiatus, the Pre-Med Workshop 2023, organised by the Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA NUMed), was successfully held on 25 March 2023. The workshop not only provided aspiring medical students with insights into the career of a medical student and medical professional but also gave the NUMed student volunteers an opportunity to get involved through facilitating the workshops and increasing awareness of AMSA NUMed within the university as well as the local community.

Sponsored by Mint Communications Sdn. Bhd. and Sureworks Sdn. Bhd., the workshop was chaired by Deong Min Xuen, a Year 1 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) student, and Lan Yuen Qi, a Year 2 MBBS student, along with 31 other student volunteers who facilitated the workshop activities, acted as panellists and gave performances.

The event was attended by a total of 80 participants, primarily high school students from international and private schools located around Johor, including Crescendo-HELP International School and Seri Omega International School. Some of the students were also pre-university students taking A-Levels.

The Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Paul Hubbard, was on hand to give the opening remarks. There was also a talk by an Associate Professor, Dr. Jhoram Nufable, who shared about the Dynamics of the Medical Field.

The most anticipated event of the day was the Clinical Skills in Action workshop, where the participants were involved in sessions covering topics such as Blood Grouping, CPR & AED, Medical Emergencies, as well as Hand Wash & Auscultation. Inspired by the sessions experienced by preclinical students in Year 1, they provided the participants with plenty of hands-on opportunities. These were then followed by a panel discussion with NUMed students.

The workshop concluded on a high note with the Take A Chill Pill - Social Night Dinner and Closing Ceremony, during which participants had the opportunity to socialise and enjoy performances by the student volunteers.

While participants gleaned a myriad of invaluable insights into the world of medicine, the event volunteers also benefited in terms of honing their project management and soft skills.

According to Yuen Qi, “This event is one that’s very close to many of our hearts as it aims to inspire the next generation of medical students. Many of the participants had similar struggles to what we had before we entered medical school, not knowing whether medical school would be the right path for them. This would have been a great event for ‘younger me’ and I’m happy I got to be a part of it!”

Min Xuen concurred, sharing that “The main aim of the Pre-Med Workshop was to expose the participants to life as a medical student. Before entering medical school, it is typical to feel a sense of doubt. Hopefully this workshop managed to encourage the participants and give them an extra nudge. It was an honour to be part of it and overall a really great experience!”