Aspiring doctors from the University of Fiji are gaining invaluable, life-saving clinical experience after being granted rare access to live and complex heart surgeries at PSH Hospitals, marking a major milestone in their medical training.
The University of Fiji (UniFiji) Year 4 and Year 5 MBBS students are currently participating in a two-week specialised cardiac surgery workshop at PSH Hospitals, where they are observing advanced heart procedures inside operating theatres. The programme is designed to enhance clinical competence by bridging the gap between classroom-based learning and real-world medical practice.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fiji, Shaista Shameen highlighted that this initiative reflects the University’s strong commitment to quality medical education and practical training, and emphasized the importance of early clinical exposure in shaping competent and confident future doctors.
The Vice Chancellor expressed the University of Fiji’s deep appreciation to the CEO of PSH, Mr Parvish Kumar for permitting UPSM students in the PSH surgical observation room and for allowing top surgeons to teach the University’s medical students who are clearly overjoyed with the exposure.
‘When UPSM was first established we would not have dreamt that such high-level training would be available for the medical students. We are profoundly grateful to all medical experts at PSH for this opportunity,” she said. “Perhaps these students will go on to become famous heart specialists themselves and benefit Fiji’s people in the future’.
Dean of the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences (UPSM&HS), Dr Abhijit Gogoi, underscored the importance of strong clinical partnerships in strengthening medical education, noting that exposure to real hospital environments and advanced surgical procedures plays a vital role in students’ professional development.
“First and foremost, on behalf of UPSM&HS, we would like to sincerely thank our Vice Chancellor for facilitating the Memorandum of Understanding, which has enabled this important collaboration. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer of PSH Hospitals, Mr Parvish Kumar, who has generously extended this opportunity and has consistently welcomed our students for hands-on clinical training programmes,’’ said Dr Gogoi.
He added that the two-week cardiac surgery workshop represents a significant academic achievement for UniFiji’s senior MBBS students.
‘’The two weeks of cardiac surgery workshops, including direct observation of procedures in the operating theatre, represent a significant achievement for our Year 4 and Year 5 MBBS students. This exposure to real-time surgical practice has greatly enhanced their clinical understanding, practical skills, and confidence, while strengthening our shared commitment to excellence in medical education and patient-centred healthcare’’.
The students are being guided by the Renowned Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgeon, Dr Sanjeev Khulbey, who welcomed the presence of UniFiji students in the operating theatre. He noted that this is a crucial stage in their medical journey, as the operating room is where textbook knowledge comes to life.
‘’Observing surgeries firsthand allows students to understand anatomy in a live setting, learn operating room discipline, and develop curiosity, responsibility, and clinical thinking that are essential for their future careers as doctors,’’ said Dr Sanjeev.
Aman Puran, a Year 5 MBBS student, described the exposure as eye-opening and inspiring.
“My experience at PSH Hospitals has been truly transformative. Before this, we had very limited clinical exposure. This programme has helped bridge the gap between our theoretical knowledge and real clinical practice. Seeing the anatomy firsthand and observing complex heart surgeries made everything we studied feel real. Watching and assisting in a cardiac bypass surgery was something we had only read about in textbooks. It was an incredible opportunity. It motivated us to study harder and strive for the level of precision and excellence required in the operating theatre,’’ he said.
The University of Fiji continues to focus on meaningful clinical experiences that prepare its medical students not only to pass exams, but to become skilled, confident, and compassionate doctors ready to serve their communities.
