My name is Beatriz Ferreira, I am 20 years old and I am in the second year of the Integrated Master Degree in Medicine at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. From the moment I decided to dedicate myself to Medicine, I knew that I wanted to explore this vocation beyond the borders of Portugal, especially in countries where reality is so different from Europe. As such, when the Faculty gave me the opportunity to create a project that supported this choice, I did not hesitate to pack my bags and head to São Tomé and Príncipe, to do an internship at a local hospital. What I didn't know was that this experience would shape me so much, not only in my career, but also in the way I see the world.

The project lasted one month and consisted of an internship at Hospital Dr. Ayres Menezes, in the pediatrics area. During this period, the opportunity arose not only to assist patients in the inpatient area, but also to witness surgeries, including pediatric surgery. I highlight this surgery, as one of the patients had a profound impact on my way of seeing Medicine. It became clear that empathy towards others can make all the difference in a person’s life.

With this internship, I not only acquired medical skills, such as learning how to treat patients in adverse conditions, but I also had the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture that is very different from ours and the environment we are used to.

This experience shaped me as an individual, teaching me to adapt to adverse situations and to value the simple things in life.

To conclude, I can say that this adventure left memories that will stay with me forever. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Faculty for the opportunity it gave me and for all the support given to me from the beginning!