UNAIR NEWS – Students from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga (FK UNAIR) once again expanded their academic and clinical experience at the international level through participation in the SCOPE Exchange IFMSA-Egypt program. The month-long clinical exchange program took place in July 2026 at The Memorial Souad Kafafi University Hospital in Giza, Egypt. During the program, Noviandini Nur Ayu Rahmania and Annisa Vidya Asmara, both 2023-cohort students at FK UNAIR, completed a clinical rotation in the Department of General Surgery while gaining insight into Egypt’s medical education system and healthcare services.
Gaining clinical experience in international hospital setting
During the rotation, Novi and Annisa took part in a range of clinical learning activities as part of their experience at an international hospital, including patient care observation, case discussions with supervising doctors, and observation of more than 25 surgical procedures.
Both students also had the opportunity to enter the operating room and observe medical procedures firsthand, including laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and hernia repair, as well as various procedures in orthopedics, cardiothoracic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, ENT, and urology.
During one of their experiences in cardiothoracic surgery, the students observed the operating process firsthand and learned about the various stages carried out by the medical team. The experience gave them insight into how the knowledge they had gained in the classroom could be applied in clinical practice. Beyond their hospital activities, both students completed training in Basic Life Support (BLS) and basic suturing to strengthen their fundamental clinical skills.
Expanding clinical experience and international perspective
The SCOPE Exchange program was not limited to clinical activities at the hospital. Novi and Annisa also took part in a range of orientation activities, including a welcome party, campus tour, seminars, projects, and a social program, all of which gave them the opportunity to visit various places and learn about local history and culture. Over the course of the one-month program, both students also experienced culture shock and faced challenges in adjusting to the customs and daily rhythms of their new environment.
These experiences, however, became an important part of the learning process, particularly in building adaptability and intercultural communication skills. Interacting with doctors, healthcare professionals, and students from diverse backgrounds also helped them understand that a future doctor’s competence is shaped not only by academic and clinical ability, but also by the capacity to communicate, adapt, and uphold professional ethics.
Through the experience, Novi and Annisa hope to bring home new insights, including stronger clinical competencies and a broader international perspective, both of which they see as valuable in contributing to improved healthcare services in Indonesia. They also encouraged fellow students not to be afraid to seize opportunities or hold back from trying new experiences, noting that every challenge can become part of the process of personal growth.
Author: Nikita Aulia Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
