Tan Herr from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, started her medical degree at the International Medical University (IMU) in 2009. She studied the first two and a half years in the University before transferring to one of its Partner Universities, University of Western Australia for completion of her medical degree. Tan Herr is currently an intern at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth Western Australia. She relates to us the experience of studying in IMU and University of Western Australia in Australia. “IMU provided me the opportunity to choose from a variety of Partner Medical Schools to transfer to after the initial 2.5 years in the University. This credit transfer programme also helped to make medicine more affordable. I visited to IMU when I was in Form 5, the friendly Student Services staff, the ever-so happening-atrium, etc appealed to me straightaway! 
Studying medicine no doubt can be emotionally, physically and mentally draining. You can’t do medicine solo. On the other side of the stethoscope, I have made wonderful lifelong friends (Dr Jennifer Chen and Dr Esteban Chin)! Most memorable of my time in IMU is the M209 Orientation, it was incredible, so creative and well planned!
I was totally stoked when I found out that I was transferring to University of Western Australia because that was my first preference! Initially, I was a bit worried that I might not be able to adapt to this new environment and unfamiliar surroundings. When I was finally here, the breathtaking city, the beautiful Swan River and its friendly people made blending in this new city not much of a struggle for me. While in Western Australia, I was also completely out of my comfort zone. I took up a job as a mandarin interpreter during my holidays at a tourism event (Wonderful first-job-in-my-life experience!), and later I worked casual as a community support worker and tutor. When I graduated with a MBBS in November 2014, I feel great! Medicine has been a crazily long journey!” In the future, Tan Herr hopes to get into the Paediatric training programme in Postgraduate Year 3. She also hopes that one day she will return home to Sabah as a paediatrician.
