Trained in Sudan: Faisal dreams of being a cardiologist
June 7, 2021
Over the next few issues of Heartbeat we will feature inspiring stories of colleagues who are part of the SWB family through the Healthcare Overseas Professionals (HOP) programme.
The programme supports people from overseas (who are qualified healthcare professionals in their own home countries) to get back into clinical practice. These colleagues are all required to pass either the International English Language Test or the Occupational English test) before they take their professional exams.
In this issue we meet Faisal Ali Hassan, a 33 year old married dad of one from Somalia. When in high school, Faisal won a regional scholarship to study abroad which saw him move to Sudan to study medicine.
This is what he told us.
How did you hear about the Healthcare Overseas Professionals (HOP) programme and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust?
I heard about the programme from a friend. I soon attended a meeting about the programme where I met Nav Sharma, Widening Participation Project Support Officer who has been helping and supporting me ever since.
What type of support have you received from the HOP programme?
The Trust has helped and supported me a lot over the years, with helping me to get on courses to improve my English and kept me up to date about new developments with the HOP programme. I have always been encouraged to not give up.
Once I passed the Occupational English Test and Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board 1, I was put forward to for a clinical attachment at City Hospital with Dr Sharma, a consultant cardiologist. The clinical attachment was very important for me to do, as it showed me how the NHS works, patient flow and learning about cultural differences.
How have you benefited from the support you have received from the HOP programme?
After I finished my clinical attachment the Trust, they put me forward when positions for medical support workers at City Hospital became available during COVID-19. I applied for the position and was delighted to be appointed. This role has provided me with an opportunity to gain much needed clinical experience.
What are your plans for the future?
When I first arrived in the UK, I initially found it very difficult to not to be working as a doctor as I have spent many years training to become one. I felt I was losing time for further training, as well as losing clinical experience already gained. However, I decided to carry on and that decision is paying off as I am doing well on my journey so far
In the near future, I need to take Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board 2 exam to get full GMC registration.
After that I would like work in the NHS and later on, I would like to join a training programme as I want to become a cardiologist.
We wish Faisal well on his journey to become a cardiologist!