I graduated from VA in 2009 and then completed my first degree in neuroscience and biology at Lawrence University, WI. Afterward, I continued with my medical training at St. George’s University of London Medical School in the UK. Since 2018, I have been training and working in London.

 

 

I am a doctor in London, working at Charing Cross Hospital at the moment, as part of the frontline workforce. Otherwise, I am doing my training in neurosurgery.

 

 

In London, most hospitals are now looking after COVID-19 patients. Most of us in different specialties (i.e. surgery) have been redeployed to work in medical wards looking after an increased number of COVID-19 patients. I now work 7-8 days on, 2 days off, type of rotation. We have multiple on-call days where we work 12-hour shifts. It is busy but it has been amazing to see how people are coming together to support each other. 

 

The other important thing is that the way we do medicine has changed. It is almost like COVID-19 put everything else on hold. It is difficult to do elective surgeries for other problems like cancers. We will need to work extra hard after the pandemic to resolve these delays. 

 

 

I think to support healthcare professionals, the most important thing would be to decrease the number of infections. Supporting social distancing measures, educating the public about the infection, and spreading kindness are really important.