Love in 2020 - A medical student's response to COVID-19

“Love in 2020”- the year that shall never be forgotten. I chose 7 important developmental milestones of the COVID-19 pandemic and presented them visually on 7 jigsaw pieces, each representing a continent. Together they form the Coronavirus globe- representing how the divided world became united, in the face of the unprecedented global health crisis, by nothing short of love. The 3 healthcare workers of different ethnicities (BAME/ BLM!) stand together with a common mission, yet are physically apart, practicing appropriate “2 meter” social distancing measures. These 7 milestones are, in chronological order:

1. Wuhan in lockdown following the world’s first detected cases of coronavirus.

2. The UK’s first case of coronavirus.

3. “Diamond Princess” cruise under quarantine in Yokohama.

4. World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.

5. Tokyo 2020 Olympics being postponed.

6. Boris Johnson admitted to the Intensive Care Unit following diagnosis of COVID-19.

7. Oxford University’s vaccine trials shown to produce strong immune response.

“You stay home for us; I stay at work for you”- this message delivered repeatedly on signs held by frontline healthcare workers also represents what the pandemic means to me personally. During March when the virus started spreading rapidly in the UK, as a fourth-year medical student in the midst of insane preparations for Finals, I felt caught up– part of me wanting to get involved and contribute, at the same time feeling helpless and puzzled by the enormity and uncertainty of the situation. Thus, what I thought was best in practical terms, was to adhere to practicing social distancing measures and to “stay home” as much as possible in the attempt to “flatten the curve”. Starting next year though, I will be playing a new role to “stay at work” as a Foundation Doctor in the NHS. I swear to serve patients with integrity, do no harm, and, along with our fellow healthcare professional colleagues, provide best quality care to patients, all free at the point of access. Together, with love, we will beat the virus!

Graphic design created by the Notability and Procreate apps

The above visual entry has been shortlisted out of >650 entries internationally to be included in Imperial College London's research into medical students' response to COVID-19.