RCSI Bahrain announced the winner of its annual Intern Award, which is presented to one RCSI Bahrain intern who has demonstrated excellence in professionalism, communication skills, and collaboration during the year of internship.

The winner of the Intern Award, Dr Manaf Yusuf, is an intern at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and was also part of the Coronavirus Unified Call Centre (444).

On being the winner of the Intern Award this year Dr Yusuf commented: “I feel blessed and grateful to have won the award and to be surrounded by my family, friends, and colleagues as it wouldn't have been possible without them. My education at RCSI has given me a solid foundation in clinical practice, as well as the essentials with regards to ethics, and this has enabled me to apply them to different circumstances.”

When asked about his experience of being an intern during the current COVID-19 pandemic and advice for future interns, Dr Yusuf stated: “I believe that we are lucky to have this opportunity to help the people and the country get through this difficult time. I was part of the 444 team which involved me working with people of not only different backgrounds, but also different professions and this has definitely contributed to my communication skills, experience, and confidence. The best advice I can give to the future interns is to enjoy the experience, try to learn as much as you can, and ignore all the negativity that comes with it. There are times where you will feel discouraged but don't let that stop you from your goals. Keep fighting until the end and keep patient care as your first priority.”

The RCSI Bahrain Intern Award was introduced by the Careers and Alumni Office in 2015.

To be eligible for this award, candidates must be graduates of RCSI Bahrain, be part of its Alumni programme, and be in their intern year during the year of the award.

The selection of the Intern Award winner is based on the information received by consultants, residents, co-workers, colleagues, and fellow peers through the Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) evaluation. The Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) is a tool used to collect colleagues' opinions on clinical performance and professional behaviour. The feedback focuses on clinical skills, communication, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals, professionalism, and patient management. The data collected is then analysed by RCSI Bahrain’s Quality Enhancement Office.

Professor Alfred Nicholson, Head of School of Medicine and Vice President for Academic Affairs at RCSI Bahrain commented: “I extend my sincere congratulations to Dr Manaf Yusuf on his great success throughout his internship. From the feedback obtained, Dr Yusuf has received unanimous approval from his peers, the nursing staff, and consultants for his work as an intern, which is a wonderful achievement. I wish him all the very best for what I am sure will be a very productive and rewarding career. We are extremely proud to have him as an RCSI Bahrain alumnus and look forward to watching him progress further in his career path.”

At RCSI Bahrain, the medicine programme puts a strong emphasis on clinical competence, with 50% of the five-year programme spent on clinical attachments in our partner hospitals. The programme takes a patient-centric and holistic approach, leading to educational and social gains for communities in Bahrain and beyond.