Nikolay Lunchenkov | M.Sc. Health Science
"As a health scientist and a medical doctor, I would like to actively participate in developing health services for LGBTQI+ community and use my knowledge to help those in need."
Before I moved to Germany and started to do my Master's degree in Health Science - Prevention and Health Promotion at TUM, I used to work as an infectious diseases doctor at Moscow regional centre for HIV care and prevention and as a project manager at a local HIV service organisation. As a doctor and as an LGBTQI+ community member, I learned a lot from my patients and clients about their needs and the issues they face, including access to HIV treatment, testing and, of course, how stigma and discrimination harmful for society.
I had an excellent opportunity to do several internships and gain working experience as a consultant at global international organisations such as UNAIDS, UNFPA and WHO. Nevertheless, that I occur some practical experience, I felt a significant lack of theoretical background. Therefore, I decided to continue my education at TUM. The program I'm enrolled in is a unique combination of modern scientific approaches, practically orientated courses, and diverse world-leading professors and tutors. Here, I received a lot of support for my research interests that belong to LGBTQI+ health from professors and peers at TUM. That showed me that you could be yourself, you can help your community and don't be afraid of potential discrimination from the state. And as a future health scientist and a medical doctor, I would like to actively participate in developing health services for LGBTQI+ community and use my knowledge to help those in need.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought both negative and positive aspects to my studies. First of all, I'm missing personal communication with my fellow students and our professors. Even though some courses assumed practical experience in a lab, I didn't have such an opportunity. However, I learned a lot about myself, how to cope with stress, loneliness, and to support my friends and my community digitally. I successfully managed to do an internship at Munich RE while studying in my third semester.