Welcome, dear Frederik

Starting in April 2026, Frederik will be joining our team in Cambodia. The medical student will be working at our children’s hospital in Siem Reap for two months. Here, he introduces himself.

Frederik Banerjee, 24, Basel

I decided to study medicine because I’ve been fascinated by the natural sciences from an early age. Medicine offers the opportunity to engage in scientific work while also interacting directly with patients and supporting them through various life situations. It is precisely this combination of research and clinical work that makes the field particularly exciting for me, as it constantly opens up new perspectives and requires continuous learning. In addition, medicine offers a very broad and diverse range of specialties and opportunities for development, which allows me to pursue my own interests and further refine my focus over time.

I am particularly interested in the assignment at the Kantha Bopha Hospitals because it gives me the opportunity to experience medicine in a completely different context. I find it exciting to get to know a new cultural environment and gain insights into a healthcare system that differs in many ways from what I have known so far. It is also particularly important to me to develop a better understanding of global health disparities and to broaden my own perspective.

During my two-month stay, I expect to gain a wealth of valuable experience, both professionally and personally. I would like to use this opportunity to further develop my clinical skills and to apply and deepen my theoretical knowledge in everyday practice. At the same time, I hope to gain a better understanding of how medical care functions under different structural and cultural conditions.

I am most looking forward to working with the local team. Direct interaction with patients from a different culture is also a particularly enriching experience for me. However, I also have a certain respect for the linguistic and cultural differences, as well as for the potentially difficult situations I may face. Nevertheless, I see these challenges as an important part of the assignment and as an opportunity to grow and broaden my horizons.