Making An Informed Decision (MAID)
Making An Informed Decision (MAID) is Malaysian Medics International Young Medics’ (MMIYM) annual flagship event. The purpose of MAID is to educate and create awareness among pre-university students by giving them a glimpse into the life of a medical student. As the name implies, MAID aims to ensure pre-university students are making an informed decision on their career choice as they step into the next phase of their life. Through MAID, participants will be able to witness not only the fun and exciting aspects of being a medical student but also the challenges that come along with it.
How is MAID conducted?
Making An Informed Decision (MAID) is held annually as the first event of MMIYM Branch Council. The event is usually held in March every year and was held in the Pre-Clinical Block of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Faculty of Medicine in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur for yet another year. This was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Persatuan Mahasiswa/i Fakulti Perubatan University Kebangsaan Malaysia (PERSIAP UKM).
Throughout the event day, there were many activities planned for the participants. These activities aim to allow participants to learn new skills taught by medical students. In addition to that, participants will also be able to gain insights into the field of medicine from experienced doctors and medical students. Some examples of the activities held in previous events include:
To Respond Immediately And Gauge Effectively (T.R.I.A.G.E.)
Participants learn how to respond to an emergency situation effectively.
Doctor in The House (DiTH)
Participants learn how to make a diagnosis from the information gathered through history-taking in a case-based discussion format.
Clinical Skills Session
Participants are taught by the committee members on various clinical skills.
The clinical skills taught:
Monitoring blood pressure manually
Performing CPR
Hand-washing technique
Sharing Sessions
Medical doctors and students are invited to share their knowledge and experiences in the field of medicine with the participants.
Participants are allowed to prompt questions to the speakers during the questions and answers (QnA) session.
Faculty Tour
Participants are taken on a tour around the medical school campus to experience the environment of medical students.
Upon having conducted surveys with our participants, the activities which were most favoured by them were the Clinical Skills Session and DITH.
“This may help us communicate better with patients and learn more about their condition, so we can improve the quality of care they receive”
“The seniors are each station are really friendly and through their guidance, I can grasp the skills well”
-quotes from MAID participants, 2024
Conclusion
Through Making An Informed Decision (MAID), we at MMIYM hope that participants will gain a deeper insight into the medical field. Participants could utilize this opportunity to get to know more about the pathway to enter the field which is fundamental for their medical career. In addition, we also hope that the participants seize this opportunity to widen their knowledge and have a better understanding of the journey in medicine. For those who are still hesitant about entering the medical field, we believe that this platform will be instrumental in their decision-making process. Participants will be able to learn in a fun and engaging way while also expanding their social circle and networking. Lastly, we hope that the participants will take away valuable lessons after the event and subsequently, be competent in making an informed decision.
