Vision College Alumni: Success Story, Izuan Halik

Vision College Alumni: Success Story, Izuan Halik

Izuan Halik
Sonographer in Maternity Department
West London, England

Choosing a career when you are still in High school is a difficult task. My interests for my future career kept changing over and over again, but I was always drawn to a medical health related profession.

After I finished my degree in Biomedical Science at the University of Malaya (UM) I was still rather unsure about which career path to pursue until I was introduced to Vision College 7 years ago by my friend Ashley, who was a First Year Student and one of the first to attend the Post Graduate Diploma Studies in
Postgraduate Diploma of Medical Ultrasonography, PgDMU (Asia).

Ashley invited me to come to an Open Day event and I was captured with interest right away. I was accepted to participate the course in November 2005 and it properly was the most important decision in my life and I will never regret this decision which has changed my life in so many positive aspects.

Vision College back then was still very small which was ideal for a small number of students; I am aware that Vision College has extended into a renowned facility since, still providing excellent teaching and education. Back in my days it already had a very well equipped in-house diagnostic centre with up to date ultrasonic devices and systems. The lecturers were always very friendly and helpful and to this day I fondly remember the Ultrasound Supervisors, Mr Alan and Ms Yip, and also guest lecturers like Mr Roger Gent.

The college had a small library with adequate reference books. The educational approach consisted of problem/evidence based learning, one-to-one approach, and practical teaching which has helped me very much to gain the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding for my chosen professional career and the hands-on practice with actual patients has taught me to understand the relationship between a member of the public and a health professional.

My career in Ultrasonography has provided me with a profession that I enjoy with great passion. The challenges that I am facing on a daily basis keep me interested to broaden my knowledge by attending ultrasonographic courses and study days as well as reading medical and profession related journals.

As a Sonographer I am not only responsible for producing a diagnostic image but also interpreting and reporting it, making my findings part of the further treatment for a patient.

Up close patient contact, history taking, equipment optimisation and problem solving skills are required for every examination. It is a task of detective work with each patient presenting with a unique clinical question that requires a solution from the scanned image.

Afters pending some years in General Ultrasound and working as an Application Specialist I focused on Obstetric Sonography as my chosen field of speciality and expertise. Today, I am working as a Maternity Sonographer in one of the busiest Maternity Departments in West London, England. I work with colleagues who have many years of experience and together we make a great team. My Senior Sonographer helps and supports me when needed and gives me courage and support to expand my career steps.

London is a great city. Being one of the most multicultural and diverse among the European cities I encounter patients of many different cultural beliefs and backgrounds on a daily basis which has helped improving my interpersonal skills in treating every patient equal and with the same respect and dignity. It has helped me on my personal path in life to rise above criticism, despite this being positive or negative, but to see this as feedback and to learn from this, making me a better person as a professional and in private life.

Vision College has played a big part in the developing of the person I am today and helped me along with a sound and thorough education for which I am very grateful. It has opened many opportunities for me and I am still exploring.

Nurses's Day

Nurses all over the world celebrate Nurses' Day from May 6-12 each year. Although a National Nurses’ Day was first proposed in America in 1953, it wasn’t until 1974 that the ball got rolling, when the International Council of Nurses proclaimed May 12th International Nurses’ Day. May 12th is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is an English Nurse and is the founder of modern nursing. As of 1998 (updated), 8th May was designated as annual National Student Nurses' Day.

In the United Kingdom, each year a service is held in Westminster Abbey in London.
During the Service, a symbolic lamp is taken from the Nurses' Chapel in the Abbey and handed from one nurse to another, then to the Dean, who places it on the High Altar.

This signifies the passing of knowledge from one nurse to another. At St Margaret's Church at East Wellow in Hampshire, where Florence Nightingale is buried, a service is also held on the Sunday after her birthday.

The week-long celebration is designed to accommodate the variety of schedules nurses are required to work. Activities during National Nurses Week typically include banquets and recognition dinners, state and city proclamations, continuing education seminars, and other community events.  Nurses are typically honored with gifts, dinners, and flowers by friends and family members, coworkers such as doctors and administrators, and patients who want to show their appreciation.

Every year, the International council of Nurses will select a theme. For International Nurses’ Day 2012, the theme is “Closing the Gap: From Evidence to Action”. This is to highlight the importance of evidence based practice in Nursing.

All public and private hospitals in Malaysia are holding events to honor their nurses.
Malaysian Nurses’ Association will conduct a seminar annually where Malaysian nurses all over Malaysia will congregate to celebrate this symbolic event.

By Ms. Tang
Head of Nursing Programme

Buy the Ticket – Take a ride! Travel stories from Russian intern in Malaysia.

Thean Hou Teple:  Ascention

Surfing through the internet, I was trying to find something new and interesting to see in KL on weekends, I found the Thean Hou Chinese Temple. The next day at work, I asked my working collegues about this temple and they mentioned “Why do you want to go there? There’s nothing much to see!”, this encouraged me to go!
So before the weekend came, I did a search on how to get there, it was quite difficult to get there through LRT and the nearest one was at KL Sentral.  The only way to get there is by walking, which was quite alright with me.

It takes about 20 minutes by feet.  Thank god, it wasn’t too sunny that day but it was still difficult to walk for 20 minutes under 32 Celcius. When I was almost at Thean Hou Temple, I realized that I had to walk up a steep road which has a gradient of about 20 degree. At that point in time I was quite sweaty and tired. I collect back my composure and marched on.

When I first saw the temple, I was a bit disappointed. But I was wrong, when I got in, it proved that it was worth it.  First of all, as this temple is located on a highland, I could smell the clean fresh air. Secondly, when I was there, I experienced a calm and quiet atmosphere, which I find it unusual in the middle of a big city. The smell of aromatic fragrance, yellow light lamps over indoor space, symbols of buddhas. It really looked like a small China in the middle of the city.
While I was there, I spent some time inside the garden, sitting on a bench and relaxing. I also went into the temple, then walk around the Chinese Zodiac symbols and then finally went back home.

My perception of Malaysia now is more and more like “ The Whole Asia Inside One County”. This is because there is cross culture and religion, mix of nations and different native food. While my stay in Malaysia, I will definitely look for new places to see. I believe that “NEVER STOP EXPLORING!” and in Malaysia, I am sure I will be pleasantly surprised.