My time in the NHS did not start out well. I initially underwent training as a radiologist, but my deteriorating mental health affected me so badly that I could not complete the Royal College of Radiologists’ professional exams. So, I decided to retrain as a General Practitioner (GP)…

I was six years old in an all-boys kindergarten. We were preparing for the end-of-year concert when we were asked, “Who would like to be a girl?” and I raised my hand. That was the most natural thing that came to me. After all, I was always playing with dolls since I was young…

“During these unprecedented times, Covid-19 has brought various changes into our lives, and I am no exception.

All this while, I could get away with treating a coughing patient with a two-ply mask. Now, we must be in complete PPE as they are considered to “display signs of Covid-19.”…

“There are people out there who need help. That was my first thought when the government announced the gravity of the Covid-19 pandemic and implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO). But with our movement restricted, who will help them?…

“With statistics regarding the coronavirus pandemic filling the headlines daily, walking into the emergency department during these times can be daunting.

I'm currently a final year medical student on my ED placement in New South Wales, Australia. In a week, I'd be at the hospital for five days, usually on evening shifts between 2 in the afternoon till late night at 10…

A 3-ply surgical face mask, a thin plastic apron, a pair of surgical gloves, a head visor. This is the Level 2 PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) I wear to treat every patient, both suspected and confirmed. Let me reiterate that: suspected and confirmed. To quote my consultant, this level of PPE is best suited for making a sandwich…

I was born and raised in Samoa, with its temperate climate, sandy beaches and freshly-grown produce. I think being named after my grandmother reflects how Samoa’s culture is so integrated around its core principle -- family. Ever since I could remember, my parents ingrained into me essential values reflective of our society…

“My uncle was the first gastroenterologist in Malaysia. Naturally, my family regarded medicine as a noble profession that would guarantee financial freedom, hence every child in the family was forced to pursue it. This was stressful as I never wanted to be a doctor and the stress was compounded by my father’s beliefs that failing to get into medicine in University of Malaya (UM) meant you were stupid and that non-specialist medical practitioners were on par with college dropouts.’’

“Depression for me had always been intermittent episodes. My earliest memory of feeling off was at age 12. My school had just put on a play and what initially started off as being “post-performance blues” soon sent my mental health derailing…”