Medical schools are fast tracking students so they can play their part on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic
- Medical schools in Ireland moved up their exams so young doctors could help in coronavirus pandemic.
- About 1,300 students are expected to graduate from the country's six medical schools, according to the Irish Times.
- Some of them will be eligible to work by next month.
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While the coronavirus has led to some schools canceling their exams, medical schools in Ireland have moved theirs up so new doctors can take their place on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Irish Times.
"People often talk about young people being snowflakes or self-centered," said Prof. Hannah McGee, dean at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland told the Times. "Yet, they have taken on early exams, with a risk of not getting the grades they wanted, and there has been no sense of 'woe is us'.
"There's is a general sense among them that what's happening is bigger than any of us. They are committed to playing their part," McGee said.
The coronavirus has infected more than 265,000 people around the world. At least 11,100 have died.
The RCSI fast-tracked its exam by six weeks. The National University of Ireland Galway also moved up summer exams, according to the Irish Times.
About 1,300 students are expected to graduate from the country's six university schools of medicine. Many will be ready to work in the health service as early as next month, the paper reported.
"It was immense stress," RCSI student Anthony Javed Machikan told the Irish Times. "It was a case of studying for 16-hours each day . . . thankfully, I passed it. In fact, the majority of us did."
As of Friday, Ireland had at least 683 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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