Thu | Dec 19, 2024

‘Ukraine shaped me’

Medical student who fled war in Ukraine officially enters profession

Published:Monday | March 4, 2024 | 12:08 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter -
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Medical student Joel Tulloch, who escaped the war in Ukraine, receives his white coat from Dr Neville Ballin (left), executive dean of the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences, Jamaica (CSMSJ) at its Sixth Annual White Coat ceremony at Shortwood Road in St
Rudolph Brown/Photographer
Medical student Joel Tulloch, who escaped the war in Ukraine, receives his white coat from Dr Neville Ballin (left), executive dean of the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences, Jamaica (CSMSJ) at its Sixth Annual White Coat ceremony at Shortwood Road in St Andrew yesterday.
Joel Tulloch, one of 23 medical students who escaped the war in Ukraine, hugs his mother, Kelly-Ann Tulloch, after becoming one of the white coat medical graduates at the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences, Jamaica’s 6th Annual White Coat ceremony at t
Rudolph Brown/Photographer
Joel Tulloch, one of 23 medical students who escaped the war in Ukraine, hugs his mother, Kelly-Ann Tulloch, after becoming one of the white coat medical graduates at the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences, Jamaica’s 6th Annual White Coat ceremony at the Caribbean Medical School at 77 Shortwood Road in St Andrew yesterday.
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Two years ago, Joel Tulloch was grappling with anxiety as he pondered whether he would be able to return home alive and complete medical school as he, along with 23 other Jamaican medical students, had to flee Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

But yesterday those fears were nullified for good as he walked across the stage at the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences, Jamaica (CSMSJ) to be donned his white coat in a ceremony that signalled his entrance in the medical profession.

“To make it out of that, to come back to Jamaica, see my family … them not losing their loved ones, and I’m here today with them, especially my mom, and my father and my brother, it’s just a testimony,” the 22-year-old told The Gleaner.

Reflecting on his academic journey, Tulloch noted that although his fear of dying in a war subsided when he returned home in March 2022, he still had to grapple with the possibility that his dream of becoming a medical doctor would dissipate.

He was faced with the challenge of transferring to a local medical school, and not only was it more expensive than the fees he paid at the VN Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine, where he was in second year, but he was being asked to start over at medical school to account for the differences in curriculum.

Fortunately, he said the CSMSJ only required him to do an entrance exam which he was successful in, and he was able to proceed with his studies.

However, he said matriculating to CSMSJ took some adjusting, “but in a good way”.

“For example, exams in Ukraine, they would do an oral exam, so you wouldn’t really do written for most of your exams … So, if you go in front of the lecturer or the consultant or the doctor and you don’t know it, you just don’t know it. So you can’t really choose a multiple choice ‘ABC or D’ and hope or take out the wrong answer,” he said.

“Ukraine shaped me basically, I have to give credit to them,” he continued.

Additionally, Tulloch told The Gleaner that his church, the New Testament Church, not only rallied to pray for him and his family, but it was also pivotal in helping to finance his studies which amount to US$19,000.

“The church stood out and they continue to give back. They’re like ‘Joel, don’t worry about school, we’ll fund that, we’ll push you through, trust God, believe, do yuh exams pass, and give back’,” he said.

He also received a bursary of about J$70,000 from Opposition Leader Mark Golding.

Inspired by the help he received, Tulloch who is currently doing pre-clinical rotation at the Kingston Public Hospital is committed to doing the same.

“Giving back is probably the most important part for me because people gave back, that’s why I’m here. Contributing, volunteering ... They say doctors make a lot of money l, and some doctors they are not kind or caring, but I want to be kind, I want to be caring, give back to the less-fortunate, especially in the church as well,” he said.

It was watching the diligence of his mother, Kelly Ann Tulloch, a patient care assistant at the Kingston Public Hospital, that inspired him to become a doctor.

“Seeing that shaped my vision, shaped what I wanted to become, and to be here now, achieving this, yes it does feel good,” he said.

The first of two sons, and former May Pen High School student shared that he was also motivated to be a role model for his younger brother.

“To be the first to achieve anything it’s a good feeling and just leaves a legacy for the rest of your siblings, have a younger brother, and it just allows him to try to achieve the best for himself as well,” he said.

His mother, Kelly Ann, could not contain her excitement as she watched her son being donned with his white coat. For her, this moment is a testament of her faith, and her family’s resilience.

“I can’t explain or express it, but only God. God has been faithful, two years ago I couldn’t sit like this. I was crying, couldn’t function, can’t work. But today I can say to God be the glory, God didn’t start anything that he can’t finish, and I am watching God work,” she said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com