Study Plan
Introduction and Achievements
I, JOHN KALU UMA , am a humble Nigerian and an honor
graduate of the prestigious Gannan Medical University,
China. I left home for medical school in 2016 and
successfully completed the program with an admirable
GPA of 2.74 in 2022. During my period of study, I learnt
from hardworking professors and doctors from several
countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Nepal, India,
Pakistan and China as well. The very hospitable student
body was even more diverse as students from several
African, Asian and European countries enrolled
at Gannan university as well. Due to this level of
diversity, I got to experience a glimpse of
the various forms healthcare delivery systems assumed
in different countries with different characteristics.
My undergraduate program included the typical syllabus
of a professional medical education encompassing
preclinical courses like anatomy, physiology,
biochemistry, microbiology, etc, and clinical courses such
as medicine, surgery, gynecology, obstetrics,
dermatology, etc. We were give
standardized examinations mirroring professional exams
from our home countries and most western countries in
order to broaden our perspective and better prepare us
for such encounters.
Although we were instructed in the English language, as a
result of the level of diversity, I got to interact with
several cultures and also learnt the Chinese
language.During the course of the program, I attended
several clinical seminars and remain an active member of
the Doctor’s Insight group as well as IMSAR. I also
complete the year long observership program
which immensely expanded my knowledge of the
intricacies of the Chinese healthcare system.
Prioritized modules and Interests
My decision to pursue a postgraduate masters in
Public Health came as a result of the challenges I
perceived during the earlier parts of the pandemic. I was
in my 4 year when the news of the virus began spreading
th
and China began the series of lockdowns to control the
spread. From my point of view, the wide spread fear,
confusion and loss of life that ensued wasn’t something I
could simply prescribe a pill for or offer a surgical
procedure. I quickly understood that managing a new
strain of a disease that was yet to strike would require
enacting plans and polices that coordinated the future
actions of various healthcare professionals which would
lead to faster and possibly preemptive identification and
control of similar health hazards.
In addition to the education received from theCommunity
medicine courses during my undergraduate study, I
decided to pursue public health in an attempt
to encounter modules such as health service
management and research, policy and financing, public
health for development especially in developing
countries. I hope to study the techniques that could be
used to design an adaptation of the NHS operated in the
UK to be applied in a developing country while
accommodating the impact of human activities and
presence amongearth’s microbial ecosystem.
Goals hoped to achieve
During the postgraduate program, I hope to be well
versed in the processes involved with policy making
and learn the techniques that can be used to increase the
flexibility of these policies making them serve our future
better. I plan to keep up the scholarship winning study
patterns and determination that I employed during my
undergraduate study years while also improving
on networking with my undoubtedly greatly experienced
lecturers and healthcare personnel who will have oceans
of knowledge and advice to pass on to me. I hope to meet
colleagues from far and wide who,most probably, have
relatively frontline insight into the merits and demerits
of previously enacted polices.
At the end of my program, I hope to use all I have
learnt to help forge an impactful system that not only
helps developing countries but humanity as it
struggles among other lifeforms for the
limited and observablyrare resources the earth has to
offer. I very much believe I can achieve these goals when
given the opportunity and I know the result will be
instrumental toward the survival of our kind and our
planet.
