|
Faculty of Medicine students and staff in a group photo with members and colleagues from the Macau Association of the Hearing Impaired |
On December 18, 2024, medical students from the Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.), visited the Macau Association of the Hearing Impaired in an event organized by the Faculty of Medicine Student Association. The visit provided students with an invaluable opportunity to learn about the challenges faced by individuals with hearing impairments and to explore ways to make healthcare more accessible.
Faculty of Medicine assistant dean Dr. Daniel Baptista-Hon opened the event with a brief introduction to the MBBS program and highlighted the importance of inclusive healthcare practices. He praised the Macau Association of the Hearing Impaired for their vital contributions to supporting the hearing-impaired community in Macau and raising awareness about their needs.
During the visit, students attended a presentation by a representative from the association, which outlined the organization’s impactful initiatives and its work in advocating for the hearing-impaired community. This was followed by a tutorial on sign language, where students learned commonly used medical terms to facilitate communication with hearing-impaired patients.
|
Faculty of Medicine students and staff took part in a sign language masterclass. |
The event also featured interactive sessions, allowing students to engage directly with members of the association. They performed simple health checks, creating meaningful connections and gaining hands-on experience in delivering patient-centered care to diverse populations.
This collaboration underscores the Faculty of Medicine’s commitment to fostering compassion, inclusivity, and community engagement in medical education. The Faculty expresses its heartfelt thanks to the Macau Association of the Hearing Impaired for their hospitality and for inspiring future doctors to embrace a more inclusive approach to healthcare.
The Faculty of Medicine Student Association, MUST and the Macao Association of Hearing Impaired hope to continue to cooperate in the future to promote social integration and the development of medical education.
Students’ voices |
Student, Stephen Tang said that in this activity, he learned basic and medical-related sign language, which is particularly important for future communication with hearing impaired patients. During the activity, basic physical examination was also carried out for the hearing impaired, which is a valuable experience for the application of knowledge, and I hope that it can better serve the people in need in the future. |
|
MBBS students interacting with members of the Association |
Student, Weber Lo expressed that after conducting basic physical examinations for hearing-impaired individuals, he realized the significant benefits of using sign language in enhancing communication and the efficiency of medical services. He also noted that it is worth considering the creation of a medical sign language application manual in the future to further improve the quality of medical services. |
Student, Loey Lou expressed gratitude for the communication experience provided by the event, which deepened their understanding of communication. They felt that hearing-impaired individuals are an important part of society and deserve attention and care. They hope that sign language will become more widespread in the future to promote a loving and inclusive Macau. |
Student, Ngo Laam Tong said that the activity provided an insight into the living conditions of the hearing-impaired and listened to their self-improvement experiences. This not only enhances the students' empathy, but also motivates them to persevere in the future of medicine. The visit not only deepened the medical students' understanding of the hearing-impaired community, but also provided them with a platform to practice humanistic care. |
