A Journey of Growth and Gratitude — Dr. Sofia’s Experience

Dr. Sofia shared her deep gratitude for the opportunity to advance her training in Family Medicine through a two-week on-site program in Cambodia. The experience, she said, was both professionally enriching and personally transformative.

During her time at Mercy Medical Center (MMC) Cambodia, Dr. Sofia strengthened her clinical and consultation skills through intensive practical sessions and hands-on learning. She expressed appreciation to the entire MMC team for their generosity in sharing knowledge and supporting visiting students.

She reflected that one of the most profound lessons was understanding that medicine goes beyond diagnosing and prescribing — it is about caring for the person as a whole. This person-centered approach, she emphasized, leads to better understanding, accurate diagnosis, and compassionate care.

“The principles of person-centered care, continuity of care, and whole-person care have become part of my daily work,” she said.

Dr. Sofia now applies what she learned every day in her clinical practice and shares these insights with her colleagues. She believes that focusing on the individual, their context, and their clinical condition helps doctors provide more complete and meaningful care.

She also encouraged other healthcare professionals to consider pursuing Family Medicine, especially those working in Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Health Posts (HPs). “Family Medicine is deeply relevant to our work in the community,” she said, “because it brings us closer to the people we serve.”

Faith, Learning, and Service — Dr. Eva’s Reflection

“As doctors, we are called to be mirrors for others — to treat people with love, humility, and equality.”

Dr. Eva de Jesus expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to continue her education through the International Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine (IPGDFM) program. She thanked Jesuits Social Service, Timor-Leste for the scholarship that made this journey possible and CMC Vellore for accepting her into the 2025 batch.

Though the coursework is delivered online, Dr. Eva highlighted the importance of the program’s on-site clinical training, which includes hands-on practice and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

From September 5 to 23, Dr. Eva served as a contact person for IPGDFM students in Cambodia. The group comprised eight participants — three from Timor-Leste and five from Cambodia — with lectures led by faculty from India and practicing doctors at Mercy Medical Center (MMC) in Phnom Penh.

She described MMC as a model of accessible and compassionate healthcare, offering affordable services and prioritizing patients’ well-being. The experience, she said, reminded her that doctors must see patients as whole persons — physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially.

Dr. Eva emphasized that this holistic understanding of medicine is also essential to her work at the CSDO Clinic in Ulmera, where her team is expanding community-based primary care.

“Medicine is not only about healing the body,” she reflected, “it’s about touching lives with compassion and seeing each person as a creation of God.”

The program, she added, also strengthened her technical abilities — from conducting effective consultations and examinations to documenting patient histories thoroughly. More importantly, it renewed her sense of purpose as a physician guided by faith and empathy.

She encouraged her fellow medical professionals to consider the IPGDFM program, calling it an excellent opportunity to enhance both medical competence and human compassion.

“Although we come from different cultures and religions,” Dr. Eva said, “we are all equal in the eyes of God.”

Both Dr. Eva de Jesus and Dr. Sofia described their participation in the Family Medicine training program as a transformative journey — one that deepened their medical expertise and strengthened their commitment to compassionate, person-centered care.

Their experiences reaffirm the belief that true healing begins when doctors see beyond symptoms and connect with patients as whole human beings — each deserving of dignity, respect, and love.

Through programs like IPGDFM, physicians across the region are not only advancing their skills but also building bridges of understanding, empathy, and service — bringing hope and healing to communities across borders.

Written by: Iriana Soares, ETR Communications Officer

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