Supporting medical students in training

As well as supporting local leprosy centres across the world, St Francis Leprosy Guild provides grants for medical students so they can experience leprosy at first hand and work alongside those who are caring for people with the disease. It may take years, and possibly decades, to beat leprosy for good so we hope our medical electives will be inspired to continue fighting the disease in the future.  We are pleased to be receiving a growing number of applications and usually award two grants to medical students each year.
 
New grant applications
 
We would be interested to hear from medical students who wish to study abroad and whose studies are primarily concerned with the care and treatment of leprosy. Please contact enquiries@stfrancisleprosy.org to request an application pack.

Dr Cajetan Skowronski, reflects on his experience in Nepal.  

“I witnessed amazing care during my visit to the Leprosy Mission at Anandaban Hospital in Nepal, while shadowing medical staff, attending outpatient clinics and assisting with surgical operations. It was inspiring to witness the breadth of the doctors’ skills in dealing with patients with very differing needs.
 
The hospital’s patients are fortunate to receive such holistic care, from first diagnosis and treatment to surgical procedures, prosthetics and physiotherapy to help them regain limb function. Education and occupational therapy are also provided to help people take care of their limbs, and rehabilitation services and job training restores hope for people for whom supporting themselves and their families is both a priority and important source of personal pride.
 
I’d like to thank the Guild’s supporters for giving me this fantastic opportunity and for supporting leprosy centres cross the world. I am considering becoming a GP, specialising in dermatology and would very much like to play a part in the accurate diagnosis of leprosy cases in the future.“ ​

Medical students recount their visit to the Hendala Leprosy Hospital in Sri Lanka