Faisal Abdullah

I grew up in Bangladesh, where I learned that you don’t need a GPS to find your way through medical school—just a lot of determination and a good sense of direction. After medical school and foundation training, I did a one-year clinical fellowship at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) which, if you’re wondering, is not as glamorous as it sounds but is immensely rewarding. In 2022, I traded the Bangladeshi tropical heat for the NHS, (because who doesn't love rain and tea, right?) and now I work as a resident doctor in Renal Medicine at West London Renal and Transplant Centre based in Hammersmith Hospital. Soon, I'll be starting Internal Medicine Training at Imperial under the North-West London Deanery. My goal? To become a Master of Clinical Medicine and academia and maybe even find a cure for my chronic over-caffeination.

My academic background, combined with my practical experiences as a junior doctor, and my lifelong interest to be an internist has fuelled my desire to pursue an MSc in Internal Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Coming from a modest financial background, this dream was more of a "let’s hope for a miracle" situation. Thanks to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, that miracle has happened! And I’m immensely excited about the prospect of becoming a part of the University of Edinburgh's esteemed medical community and leveraging this experience to make a positive impact in the realm of healthcare in Bangladesh and the UK—armed with knowledge, a bit of Scottish charm, and maybe even a kilt!

As Paulo Coelho famously said, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” I’m ready to put this theory to the test—armed with faith, perseverance, and a very questionable number of cups of coffee. Here’s to a future that promises more possibilities and, hopefully, fewer caffeine jitters! And maybe one day, I’ll find a way to prescribe laughter as the best medicine!