Love for the profession and country: why an international student decided to stay in Russia

10.01.2023

Students from Africa, India, Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, China, Pakistan, Algeria, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and other countries come to Tomsk to become doctors. Student of the General Medicine Department Casadiego Quintero Juan told how he chose the university and why he decided to stay in Russia in the future. Juan also shared his impressions of studying at Siberian State Medical University.

— Juan, where are you from and how did you enter SibMed?

I come from a small town in Colombia. Four years ago, after graduating from high school, I started looking for a medical university. SibMed was one of the universities on the list. At first I thought: Russia is far away and the Russian language is quite difficult. But then I found out that students from Colombia are already studying and living here. I contacted SibMed representatives. They told me about the University. I liked it and decided to come here. One of the reasons why I chose our university is because it is among the top universities in Russia. 

— What kind of relationships do you have with groupmates and teachers?

Now my groupmates are my second family. They have been helping me since the first year of study. Of course, everything is very strict at the medical university, but in most cases teachers help to overcome the language barrier.

— Why did you decide to stay in Russia? 

I have found wonderful friends and love in this country. I like the Russian language and I would like to work as a doctor here. After graduating, I want to continue my studies and then start working. At the moment, I am interested in such areas of medicine as endocrinology and hematology.

— What are the most vivid impressions about Russia and SibMed?

Most of all, I like Victory Day (parades are breathtaking) and New Year holidays. 

The General Medicine program is implemented entirely in English. However, future doctors have additional classes of Russian, which helps them to improve the quality of interaction with patients. Students master fundamental medicine, therapy, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, childhood diseases, neurology, ophthalmology. International students undergo practical training in the University's Clinics, where about 100 thousand patients are treated annually.