Welcome!

Starting in November 2026, five new students will be joining our teams. Jérôme, Joel and Mansi will be working in Siem Reap, while Aline and Lynn will be based in Phnom Penh. They’ll introduce themselves here.

Aline Sroka, 24, Uetikon ZH

Even today, there are times when I’m not quite sure what I want to be when I grow up 😊. In any case, medicine brings together many things that bring me joy: a fascination with the connections within our bodies, people and their stories, and the prospect of a career that gives my life meaning. In my free time, I’ve often worked closely with children and teenagers, and I can easily imagine working in pediatrics one day.

Aside from moments when you’re motivated and passionately engaged with the subject matter, studying can sometimes be a real slog. That’s all the more reason for me to make an effort not to get stuck in the tunnel of single-minded determination but to maintain a broader perspective. Medicine is so much more than just understanding our bodies. That’s why the clinical rotation in Cambodia excited me right from the start. Getting to know a different healthcare system and immersing myself in Beat Richner’s life’s work is certainly a particularly valuable opportunity. I consider it a privilege to experience his vision come to life, to see new things, and to get to know people and their stories—stories that may be very different from our own, or perhaps not.

The hope of broadening my horizons—and perhaps making a small contribution during my time there—gave me the courage to travel to this vast, unfamiliar city. Sometimes I do wonder whether I’ll be able to find my way around there and how I’ll process what will surely be many new impressions. After all, even in every Swiss hospital, things work a little differently. During my elective year, I was already able to fill my little backpack with some experiences. I hope to fill it even further in Cambodia with many professional, cultural, personal, and—above all—lasting experiences. I’m excited to see what lies ahead!

Jérôme Huber, 26, Zurich

I’ve been very interested in medicine ever since I was in school. Biology was my favorite subject in high school, and to this day I’m fascinated by how the human body works. What I find particularly exciting is the analytical “detective work” involved: using various symptoms and test results to figure out, step by step, what’s really going on. My older sister, who works as an infectious disease specialist, remains an important role model for me to this day. Through her, I gained insights into medicine at an early age and experienced just how versatile and meaningful this profession can be.

Before starting my studies, I had the opportunity to work for three months in the neonatology and intensive care units at the Children’s Hospital in Zurich. I found the insights into the emergency resuscitation room and cardiac surgery particularly exciting. In addition, I recently spent two months working at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, which further deepened my interest in tropical and infectious diseases. The combination of pediatrics and tropical medicine makes the assignment at Kantha Bopha particularly appealing to me. I’m looking forward to learning about clinical presentations that are rather rare in Switzerland and to gaining more insight into the medical care of children within a different healthcare system.

Since the placement in Siem Reap is the final rotation of my elective year, I’m especially looking forward to concluding my clinical year with this experience. I hope to gain fascinating insights into everyday clinical practice in Cambodia and to take away as much as possible for my future training.

In addition to the medical experiences, I’m of course also looking forward to getting to know Cambodia and its culture. I really enjoy traveling in Southeast Asia and am especially looking forward to exploring nature and sampling Cambodian cuisine—particularly amok and Khmer curries. In my free time, Angkor Wat, the Bat Cave in Battambang, and snorkeling on Koh Rong Samloem are already on my list.

The language barrier will certainly be a challenge. I imagine it won’t always be easy to communicate in the hospital using hand gestures, body language, and my basic knowledge of Khmer. At the same time, I’m looking forward to embracing this new situation and learning from it.

Joel von Fellenberg, 25 Jahre, Zurich

My path to studying medicine wasn’t actually planned from the start. After graduating from high school, I originally wanted to study film. During my time in high school, however, I became increasingly interested in sports, biology, and chemistry. I found human physiology and the question of how the human body works particularly fascinating. That’s how I ultimately ended up in medicine. What fascinates me most is the combination of the natural sciences and working with people.

At the same time, I find it fascinating that in medicine, you’re constantly confronted with ethical and moral questions. There isn’t always a clear or simple answer for every situation. Especially when it comes to decisions that directly affect a person, I think it’s important to consider not only the medical facts but also the person and their personal situation. This combination makes medicine very varied and challenging for me. At the same time, I love that I can use my knowledge to help others.

What appeals to me most about my assignment in Cambodia is the chance to experience medicine in a completely different setting. I’m looking forward to gaining new experiences while further developing the skills and knowledge I’ve acquired so far. I’m eager to get to know the day-to-day routine of a hospital in another country and to see what differences—and perhaps also what similarities—there are compared to my previous experiences in Switzerland. I consider it a great honor to be able to work at one of Beat Richner’s children’s hospitals. It means a lot to me to be part of this project and to be able to make a small contribution to his legacy in my own way.

Above all, I expect to learn a great deal during my two months in Cambodia—both medically and personally. I’m especially looking forward to the intercultural exchange and getting to know the local people. I hope to have many interesting encounters, make new friends, and, of course, have a good time alongside all the new experiences. Most of all, I’m looking forward to immersing myself in a culture that’s new to me for two months. I’m eager to learn about the daily lives and way of life of the local people and, at the same time, to question my own perspective on certain things.

At the same time, I also have some trepidation about this new cultural experience and about finding my way in a hospital environment that’s unfamiliar to me. The size of the hospital and the procedures—which will likely be quite different—will certainly be a challenge as well. But these are exactly the kinds of challenges I’m eager to take on. I believe that the things that feel unfamiliar at first are often the experiences from which you ultimately gain the most.

Lynn Dedial, 25, Zurich

I decided to study medicine because I’ve always valued interacting with different kinds of people, enjoy listening to others, and want to support patients who are sometimes facing difficult life situations. I’m also committed to making a meaningful contribution to society through my work.

I applied for the assignment in Phnom Penh because I enjoy traveling to other countries and am curious to learn about a new culture and a different healthcare system. Since I’m very interested in pediatrics and have already gained some insight at a Swiss children’s hospital, I’m now eager to learn about the processes and structures in Cambodia.

I’m approaching these two months with relatively few expectations. I’m very curious to see what lies ahead and look forward to learning a lot.

Most of all, I’m looking forward to living in Cambodia for two months, which I hope will give me some insight into the culture. So far, I haven’t had much exposure to other healthcare systems, which is why I’m all the more excited about this exchange—to identify differences and similarities, and, of course, to care for the young patients and their families.

I’m a bit unsure about the language barrier and whether it might cause problems. I’ll try to learn a little Khmer, but I realize that it will be a challenge.

Mansi Pai, 26, Gebenstorf AG

I grew up in an Indian family that had never had a doctor before. Even as a child, I knew I wanted to become a doctor, partly because my father constantly encouraged me to do so. I was particularly influenced by my own pediatrician, whom I remember as calm, empathetic, and incredibly professional. Even back then, I wanted to be just like him. At the same time, I was always curious, enjoyed learning, and was particularly interested in the natural sciences and microbiology while attending cantonal school. The combination of scientific thinking, direct patient contact, and the opportunity to support people in a wide variety of life situations ultimately reinforced my career aspirations.

What particularly appeals to me about my assignment at Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital is the chance to experience medicine outside the Swiss healthcare system I’m familiar with. Since I have Indian roots myself, I’m also interested in the cultural context in which medicine is practiced in other countries. At the same time, migration and climate change are altering the demographic makeup of our patients in Switzerland. Although we encounter tropical diseases less frequently here, they could play a greater role in the future. I therefore want to broaden my horizons, learn about new clinical presentations, and understand how cultural differences influence communication and medical care. For me, good communication and empathy are central components of effective medical practice.

During my two months in Siem Reap, I expect to gain many new insights and hope to learn as much as possible from the Cambodian doctors and the entire hospital team. I’m curious to see how daily clinical work is organized, what challenges the teams face, and what experiences I can bring back to my continued training in Switzerland. Most of all, I’m looking forward to interacting with the children and their families, working alongside the team in the hospital’s daily routine, and at the same time getting to know a country and its culture that are new to me.

Of course, I also have some trepidation about the unknown: a new environment, a different language, and a healthcare system that differs from ours in many ways. But it is precisely this new perspective that I see as a great opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. I’m really looking forward to my time in Siem Reap and to becoming part of the Kantha Bopha team.