Description

Throughout the second semester at Gulf Medical University, I had the opportunity to be involved in organising the World Leprosy Day event that was held on 5 February 2026, for which I was awarded a Certificate of Event Organizer in recognition of my hard work. The event was aimed at raising awareness regarding leprosy by educating others on the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease, as well as helping reduce the stigma that has often been surrounding it. The experience of organising an event has given me a great opportunity to demonstrate the Socially Accountable competency expected within the UAE Medical Competencies framework, by actively assisting towards a health initiative that had a positive impact on awareness within the wider community.

Feelings

At the beginning of this experience, I’ve felt motivated yet slightly anxious to have been given the opportunity and responsibility to help organise such an important event, yet I also felt slightly nervous as it was my first time at Gulf Medical University being involved in organising a formal health awareness event of this kind. Being trusted with such responsibility boosted my confidence as a new medical student at Gulf Medical University. I’ve worked closely alongside my supervisor and fellow team members, and we worked hard together to plan and organise the event successfully by making sure everything had been completed in a timely and professional standard.

Evaluation

There were many rewarding positives that have come out of this valuable experience. Being in an event organising role allowed me to better understand how health promotion goes far beyond hospitals and clinics, as awareness, education, and community engagement have been playing an important role in improving health outcomes within society. This experience helped me improve my communication, organisation, teamwork, and leadership skills whilst working closely with others towards a shared goal.

Analysis

Social accountability is built on things such as helping others, taking responsibility, and having the willingness to make a positive difference in society. By helping organise World Leprosy Day, I have been able to demonstrate social accountability through active communication, event organisation, and helping raise health awareness. This experience has shown me that being a future Doctor of Medicine is not only about diagnosing and treating illness, however, it is also about understanding the health needs of society and supporting public awareness.

Conclusion

In conclusion to this Reflection Report, this experience has been a valuable part of my growth during my current journey as a Doctor of Medicine at Gulf Medical University, as it strengthened my understanding of the importance of supporting public health as well. It has also helped me improve my communication, teamwork, time management, and organisational skills. While I have successfully shown the Socially Accountable competency, I have also realised the need to further improve my time management, leadership, and event organising skills.

Action Plan

Moving forward, I plan to continue taking part in community health projects and awareness campaigns. Furthermore, I will look for opportunities to take on greater responsibilities by helping organise larger health events, and becoming involved in academic or public health research projects that aim to improve wellbeing. All of this will help me continue improving myself into a responsible and a great future Doctor.

Screenshot taken from the Achievements Page: – You can find it along with other achievements by going to that page by clicking on Achievements in the menu on the left of your screen.