Ade, doctoral student enrolled in 2016, CSU
My name is Muhammad Ahmad Khan. I am 31 years old and come from Pakistan. I am studying as a 2nd year doctoral student in ophthalmology in Central South University (CSU). I have been studying in China for 10 years. In 2008, I left my country with anxiety, and started to study in China at my own expense. In 2016, I was granted the Chinese government scholarship for my doctoral program. Over the past few years, I have developed and honed my abilities amid the inclusive Chinese culture. The hard-won scholarship makes this doctorate opportunity more precious. Through the extensive and profound Chinese culture, I understand that in addition to mastering medical techniques and becoming a medical talent, I should learn to be a person of intelligence and virtue! That is why my Chinese name is Ade.
For a medical student, virtue involves mastering medical techniques, showing compassion and care for patients, keeping in line with the trends of society, leading a positive life and keeping improving. These are also my goals as a doctoral student.
From 2016 to 2018, I followed my supervisor’s requirement and plan to study clinical knowledge in a hospital and to conduct research at the same time. In the daytime, I deal with patients and medical records. In the evening, I conduct animal experiment in the laboratory. In the daytime, I do my best to inform patients of their conditions in Mandarin in a patient, thoughtful and kind manner. To practice the Chinese language, I keep writing medical records and correcting errors by hand. After years of efforts, I can communicate with doctors, nurses and patients in fluent Mandarin now. Occasionally, I can chat with patients in the Changsha dialect. My efforts get paid off. At the end of 2017, I was awarded by the hospital the honor of Excellent Medical Student.
As a doctoral student, in addition to clinical practice, I was assigned to experimental research programs. Therefore, I spent almost every night on the research work. In spite of hard work, it gives me a sense of fulfillment. I would like to thank my supervisor and Professor Lin Ding for giving me the opportunity to participate as a principal member in the cooperative NSFC project of the School of Biomedical Engineering of Capital Medical University (No.31370952), entitled the Study on Changes of Rabbit Corneal Biomechanical Properties after Femtosecond Assisted LASIK. After repeated experiment and study in Changsha and Beijing, I finally published the result as the co-first author on The Journal of Ophthalmology (Volume 2018, Article ID 2752945) in March 2018. Meanwhile, my research contribution as the first author was also posted for communication at the 2018 Annual meeting of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in the US, demonstrating CSU overseas students’ capacity on the international academic stage.
Presenting my research article at the US ARVO 2018
In the meantime, I also participated in my supervisor’s experimental research program entitled A Controllable Continuous Sub-Tenon Drug Delivery System. In May 2017, I and the research group traveled to US to attend ARVO 2017, at which we had exchanges with European and American experts on the program. In October 2017, I delivered a speech on the program on behalf of my supervisor at the World Drug Delivery Summit in the US.
Making a speech on the program on behalf of my supervisor at the World Drug Delivery Summit 2017 in US and poster demonstration
I often follow some minor direction of clinical and academic research. I keep submitting my research articles to the Congress of Chinese Ophthalmological Society (CCOS) and participating in continuing education activities. Since 2015, I have presented my articles and had exchanges with others at the CCOS for three consecutive years.
Virtue is also about actively enhancing oneself and participating in academic and social activities. This what a doctoral student should do in the 21st century. Foreign students should also display their talent and positive attitude towards life to China and the world. I love life, and actively take part in cultural and sports activities of the hospital, including dancing and singing. Every year, I perform singing or dancing at the stage of the spring festival party. I was identified by the hospital as an activist of art in 2016 and 2017.
Participating in 2017 ARVO, 2017CCOS, 2016CCOS and other large ophthalmological academic meetings in different capacities
To give a vitality to various departments and encourage enthusiasm about studying English among my colleagues, I planned and hosted the English corner activity in the hospital, and revised the English thesis abstract from my colleague and other students, helping my Chinese juniors improve their language skills. In the meanwhile, I am a member of the hospital’s reception group for international affairs and in charge of receiving international experts and introducing the hospital to them. With the trust of teachers, I was appointed as the monitor of the medical students in ophthalmology in 2016 and 2017 to manage all the medical foreign students and help them address problems concerning study and life. In the “Understand China-Understand Hunan’s Culture” activity organized by the university, I, as the team leader and the representative of students, participated in “A Trip to Yueyang-Poetry Recitation” and other theme activities, calling on foreign students to study hard and integrate themselves into China.
Receiving a foreign expert on behalf of the hospital, taking a media interview on behalf of a doctor from the hospital
The Chinese government scholarship program gives me and many students from developing countries an access to more learning resources in this large and resource-rich country as well as an opportunity to communicate with the world and make progress together with the world. Looking forward, I will continue to the follow the spirit of virtue to become a better foreign student.
Muhammad Ahmad Khan
May 27, 2018
