"Don't rely on what you hear — come and see it yourself." That is the main message Malaysian urologist Mohd Razaleigh Yusof takes away from his InteRussia fellowship. In this interview, he reflects on overcoming doubts, discovering Russian medical innovation, and building connections that continue long after the programme ended.
– Why did you decide to apply to this programme?
– I studied medicine in Simferopol, Crimea for 6 years. I was quite familiar with the Russian education system from my time in university. It's always been my intention to actually go to Moscow and see what the world of medicine is like in a bigger city. So once the opportunity arose, I didn't hesitate to apply.
– And how did your family or friends react to your decision to go to Russia for this fellowship?
– Initially, everybody raised their eyebrows, knowing how the world portrays things over there. But I still believed it'd be a good experience and exposure for me if I actually went and was able to see for myself how things are in Moscow. So, in the end, everybody agreed, and they actually supported my decision.
– Did you have any expectations or fears?
– Yep, truthfully, there were some fears because of the news that the media portrays and so on. Since we've got an embassy, a Malaysian embassy in Moscow, I also contacted them to make sure everything was fine and to find out how things were going there, and everything seemed to be all right. They also supported my decision to come, and I actually managed to visit them when I was there.
– Were you familiar with the specifics of the Russian approach to medicine before you arrived to Moscow?
– I'd never been to Moscow, and so I had no exposure or knowledge about the foundation and how the work is done in the world of medicine there. Based on the education I'd had, there were a lot of authors and also a lot of surgeons from a Russian background. So that's why I always wanted to come and have a look at how things work there.
– Were you able to gain a deeper understanding of medicine in Russia during your fellowship?
– Oh, yes, definitely! We were welcomed by the urology team at Sechenov University under Professor Dymov. Yeah, so we managed to see the daily work of the urologists in Moscow – what's available, what's done, and how it's done. And yeah, it's really, really interesting, and there're a lot of new things that we can actually learn and take back home for our own use.
– What was the biggest impression you had of the fellowship itself and of medicine in Russia?
– It seems that in my hospital, we bought a thulium fiber laser for use in stone treatment, and also for prostate and bladder surgery. I got to know it actually came from Sechenov University, and it was created and innovated by the team there. I was really impressed by how they'd innovated the laser technology at Sechenov University, and now we're actually using it. So, it was really, really eye-opening for me.
– What are your top-3 pieces of advice for people going to Russia?
– Yeah, so first, you'll have to open up your eyes and have an open mind when you go. Things are really different from how they portray it on social media.
Secondly, always be open-minded to learn new things. There are always new things to learn wherever we go, and Moscow will definitely give you that opportunity.
Thirdly, always be brave and just go for it, because if you have doubts and are afraid, you'll never jump off the bridge, and you'll never see parts of the world that you might otherwise not see.
We've got to have our own mindset on things to be able to move forward.
– Do you maintain contacts with people you met during the fellowship?
– Oh yes, we're still in touch with the team from Sechenov University. It's been more than a year, but yes, we're still in close contact. I hope that we’ll be able to create a network between our hospital and this team, and collaborate with them on research, at conferences, and in the field of surgical technology.
We also have a group chat with other fellows. We usually use to talk to each other and find out how things are going for everyone. It's good to know that everyone's progressing very well after the fellowship. It's very interesting because I'd never had friends from such a variety of countries before – they are all medicine fellows, but they all come from different backgrounds and different specialization. We really, really hope that we can meet each other again at some point.
– What would you recommend to people who are just thinking about applying to the fellowship?
– My personal advice is to apply for the fellowship. Don't look back, just look forward. Don't be afraid. Moscow is a safe place to be. The InteRussia team is a very good team, and they'll support and take care of you. We were really taken care of during our stay in Moscow, and we were really happy. And we were really sad that we had to part ways after two weeks.
But we're still catching up, so that feeling still stays with me, even now. And I hope the rest of my colleagues feel the same way too. So, for me – go for it, and you'll know what you can gain. If not, you'll just miss out.