Here I am after presenting our research project in poster form.

Author: Lauren Mathews | Major: Biology

Of all the study abroad destinations, London could be considered the “easy” choice. We share a language with the U.K and our cultures are not terribly different. However, my program offered a unique look into the everyday and professional life of medical students and professionals in London, and I was both challenged and fascinated to learn about the differences in our healthcare systems and the delivery of medical care.

For the first part of the Frontiers in Human Health summer school course at St George’s University of London, we listened to lectures and participated in panel discussions with respected researchers and clinicians from across the UK. For example, Dr. Perkin, a pediatrician and researcher at St George’s Hospital and University, presented his research findings on the introduction of commonly allergenic foods, like peanuts, into infant diets to prevent the development of food allergy. Dr. Moore, of Oxford University’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, described the crisis surrounding antimicrobial resistance and suggested several remedies to the problem. Additionally, Dr. Valderrama of St George’s highlighted his research that uses three-dimensional models to understand the role of mesenchymal stem cells in prostate cancer.

Overall, there were six themes or “Frontiers in Human Health” that guided our program: cancer, global and population health, infection and immunity, translational medicine, and genomic medicine. After two weeks of listening to academics and clinicians explain their scientific area of expertise, background, and the frontiers in that area of healthcare, students were tasked with writing an article in the style of Scientific American about one of the above-mentioned themes. I wrote about the preventability of food allergy and what steps need to be taken to combat this issue. For the second part of the course, we developed our own research project using cancerous prostate epithelial cells and two different kinds of chemotherapy traditionally used to treat prostate cancer. In the tissue culture lab, I performed proliferation assays, used a hemocytometer to count cells, calculated drug dilutions, and passaged cells using a variety of techniques. This practical laboratory experience was invaluable, and I am confident that it has prepared me for future laboratory work.

While the data that we obtained from our research project did not support our hypothesis, it was a lesson in the importance of experimental replication and realizing that most experiments do not yield the expected results. The experience of creating a project from scratch, performing the experiment, and analyzing the results was invaluable. Now, I have a better understanding of how rigorous the scientific process is and how difficult it is to obtain publishable experimental results. Furthermore, it takes an immense amount of time for scientific findings to filter down into clinical practice. My experience at St George’s reinforced my desire to pursue a career in medicine, and I believe it will be a valuable addition to my application.

Outside of the classroom, I attempted to explore every borough in London. This goal turned out to be unattainable, but in its pursuit, I was delighted to discover the vastness and variety of culture in London. Unexpectedly, I loved living in Tooting, the area of London where St George’s is located south of the Thames, and was able to enjoy amazing Indian food from local restaurants. After class and on weekends, we would take the Tube (underground rail system) up to Central London to visit a new museum, eat at a new restaurant, catch a show, or see a new corner of the city. Covent Garden was an unexpected delight that we returned to frequently. At Top Secret Comedy Club, we got a taste of English humor from local comedians and shopped down some of the most aesthetically pleasing streets. Some of my favorite flavors of the culture came from visiting random pubs. On one occasion, we accidentally found ourselves participating in “Quiz Night,” what we usually called trivia night, and experienced an unsurprising defeat from the Brits.

Coming into this program alone, I was hopeful that I would make some friends but had mentally prepared myself to spend most of my time alone. However, as an extrovert, I am excited to report that I was completely wrong! I made some amazing friends while studying at St George’s, and we all come from a variety of backgrounds. Sharon is a third-year medical student from India, and Emily is studying to be a physician’s associate in Ireland. From them, I was able to learn more about how medical professionals are trained around the world and gain an appreciation for the “college experience” that I am fortunate enough to have. With these new friends I traveled to Paris and Amsterdam, and we packed as many experiences as we could into each trip. Before London, I had never used any type of public transportation, but now I can say that I’ve been on an underground train, tram, bus, overground train, international high-speed rail, and a ferry! From my travels, I will never forget watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at midnight, riding bikes through the rain along the canals in Amsterdam, or eating dinner on the top floor of a London skyscraper overlooking the Tower of London. Most of these experiences cannot be put into words, and I am grateful to have seen those places that I had only dreamed of.

To students who are considering studying abroad, I implore you to do it! I took a chance and chose a program where I knew no one, and now I hope to visit one of my new friends in Ireland next summer. Find the program that fits your schedule and helps you along your degree path, apply for scholarships, and go ahead and save up some money now. Most of the time the plan will not be perfect. For me, I had no idea who I would meet at my program, and I had to trust that I would be able to form relationships with people who had little in common with me. Growth requires that we step outside of our comfort zone, and there is nothing like a trip abroad to do just that! London was not the “easy” choice for me, but it was certainly the best one. It was a choice that led to a collection of experiences that has shaped me as a person and future physician.

Cheers!