St George’s alumnus and Physician Associate, Arjun Wara, on striking a good work-life balance and applying the skills he learnt at St George's to his career
St George’s alumnus and Physician Associate, Arjun Wara, studied Biomedical Science at St George’s before returning to complete his postgraduate diploma in Physician Associate studies.
Since graduating, Arjun has gone on to work in a range of medical specialties, including Oncology and A&E, before recently becoming a lecturer for a new Physician Associate course at the University of East London (UEL). Here, he teaches students using Virtual Reality (VR) Augmented Reality (AR) and medical simulation sessions to help train students for their future careers.
Alongside this role, Arjun has also volunteered for Raleigh International and acts as an Ambassador for England as part of a global fan network for the FIFA World Cup 2022 to help promote this year's tournament.
He spoke to us about what has helped prepare him to implement a brand-new Physician Associate course, and how his time at St George’s has prepared him for a range of different roles since graduating.
The transition from student to lecturer
Arjun’s role as lecturer on the UEL Physician Associate course is his first teaching role and he says, “I had a great time on both my undergraduate and postgraduate courses at St George’s, and it has been wonderful to bring my own passion for Physician Associate studies to the role.
“It also feels good to be part of a course that uses some of the latest VR and AR technologies to teach students. We have a very enthusiastic group of students who are keen to learn, and I am excited to be part of something new and innovative, and to be on this journey with them.”
Speaking about what has helped him adapt to the new role, Arjun adds, “Working in a number of environments since graduating has really helped me adapt quickly to different roles. Studying Biomedical Science at St George’s as an undergraduate has really helped me in my role as a physician associate when working clinically. Having the clinical knowledge has also helped me a lot in my role as lecturer, as I am able to call upon this experience when teaching students.”
Connecting football fans as a Fifa Ambassador
In his free time, Arjun is an ambassador for England as part of the Qatar Fan Leader Network. The movement is designed to help connect fans across different countries and give them a voice and help in the development of the World Cup from a fan’s perspective.
Speaking about what attracted him to the role of Ambassador, Arjun says, “I have always had a passion for football, playing as part of several teams during my time at St George’s as well as attending matches as a fan. I feel proud to be part of this community which helps ensure the sport is inclusive, and is accessible to everyone. Fifa and the Supreme Committee of Legacy and Delivery are currently working towards the World Cup in Qatar, taking place later this year, and I've enjoyed playing a part in such a global event.”
Supporting local communities through volunteering
As well as acting as an Ambassador for Fifa and The Supreme Committee, Arjun has also volunteered as a team leader assessor for Raleigh International, which involves supporting and assessing future volunteers to prepare them for work on a range of sustainable development projects. He decided to move into this role after spending a month volunteering in Kenya, and three months volunteering in Nicaragua for the organisation.
Arjun says of his experience as a volunteer: “I really enjoyed gaining insight into different cultures, and my experience as a volunteer was really valuable in terms of developing both my cultural awareness and interpersonal skills. My experience as a volunteer allowed me to develop both my cultural awareness and interpersonal skills.
“Working within different communities allows you to challenge what you know. There were a few deep-set traditions within the communities I spent time in, and gaining cultural insight really helped me to educate locals about health while being sensitive to their beliefs. Interacting with people from all walks of life helped me to provide better welfare to the community while being respectful of different cultures.”