In my first year, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks on clinical placement at Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha, Qatar.

When the offer came through, it was an easy decision. Sports medicine and rehabilitation have always been areas I am passionate about, and the chance to learn inside one of the world's leading orthopaedic and high-performance centres was something I could not pass up.

From day one, the experience was eye-opening. I spent most of my time in the high-performance rehabilitation gym and the physiotherapy outpatient department, observing and engaging with innovative approaches to athlete and patient care. What struck me most was how seamlessly the multidisciplinary team worked together – physiotherapists, physicians, orthopaedic surgeons and strength coaches all aligned around a single goal: helping athletes return to peak performance safely and efficiently. There was a strong culture of research and teaching at Aspetar, which has sparked my interest in potentially being involved in the future.

Outside of clinical hours, I had the chance to explore Doha and experience Qatar's culture, food and hospitality. I enjoyed exploring Doha, from the desert safari and Souq Waqif to the modern landscape of the Corniche.

My time at Aspetar was a memorable experience that I will look back on fondly during my time at RCSI. If any student has the opportunity to go, I would highly recommend it.