Sam Siljee

Age: 23

What are you studying and what year?
Fifth year Medicine

At what university are you studying?
University of Otago – Wellington Campus

When were you at the GMRI?
Summer of 2014/15 and 2015/16.

What are your career aspirations?
I’d love to become a plastic surgeon.

What research were you involved in during your studentship at the GMRI?
I was involved with exploration into possible future treatment for venous malformations and how to conduct solid scientific research.

What’s the thing you liked most about your studentship at the GMRI?
It’s exciting to work with state-of-the-art equipment, however, it’s the fantastic team at the GMRI that really made this a great experience. It’s also great to know I’m making a difference in the treatment of patients.

What’s the most exciting thing you have done/been involved with during your studentship?
Getting my manuscript ready for publication was very exciting! It’s such a thrill to be able to get my name out there at such an early stage in my career.

Would you recommend the studentship at the GMRI to other students? If so, why?
I would definitely recommend a studentship at the GMRI; it’s an excellent place to learn all about the scientific process, as well as laboratory techniques.

What has your practical experience at the GMRI taught you that university can’t, or hasn’t?
It’s so great to feel like I’m actually contributing to medical knowledge, rather than simply learning what others have already discovered.

What have you achieved since you completed the studentship at the GMRI?
Since my time at the GMRI I have been fortunate to have one paper published, with another one on the way. It’s so exciting to see my name in print and know that I have contributed the knowledge on venous malformations.