Clinical Exchange in Japan

Welcome to Japan and Nagoya University school of Medicine!

<<Page back

Report of Clinical Clerkship

Ms. Viola Yuriko Leidner from Germany

Departments: Pediatrics, Neurology, Psychiatry, Gynecology
Period: May – July 2013

First of all, I want to say how thankful I am to have been able to visit and rotate in the Nagoya university hospital. It has been an immense privilege to learn at one of the best and one of the most specialized hospitals in Japan and I did not only learn a lot about various and rare diseases, I also enjoyed the hospitality of the Japanese doctors who were very enthusiastic about showing me typical aspects of the Japanese cultures and in return learning about mine.

What I should mention beforehand is that my mother is Japanese and even though I would not go as far as to say that I am fluent in Japanese, I do understand a lot so I did not have major communication problems. However, almost all of the physicians speak excellent English, especially in the department of Neurology, so English speaking medical students will not have any problems.

I spent my first 4 weeks in the department of Pediatrics under Professor Kojima. The first week I spent in general Pediatrics, Neurology and Infectiology. My second week was in the NICU (Neonatal intensive care unit) where I learned among other things about the physical examination of a newborn. In the last two weeks I was in Hematology and Oncology where I also learnt a lot about the current research in young cancer patients. I had the chance to see patients with a wide spectrum of various rare diseases I heard and learned about but never seen before, for example Ewing-sarcoma, Neuroblastoma and Morbus Hirschsprung. Since it was my first rotation in Japan, I also experienced the everyday routine of things and organization of this hospital.

My next department was Neurology under Professor Sobue. I was very impressed with the friendliness and the English speaking abilities in the department of Neurology. I received a private lecture in English every morning and I learned a lot about the different neurological diseases in the Nagoya University hospital. Again, that means that I could see a lot of patients with very rare diseases I had sometimes not even heard of. Also, I was taught how to do a neurological examination and I even had the chance to try out my knowledge in Japanese on a patient!

The next two weeks I rotated in the department of Psychiatry under Professor Ozaki. I did not have a lot of direct interaction with the patient but I still learned a lot. I also have been able to attend Prof. Ozaki’s special lecture on the pathogenesis and therapy depression in the first week and another speech he was giving in the second week on borderline personality disorder and dynamic psychotherapy, both of them great chances to learn more about psychiatric disorders and to extend my Japanese medical vocabulary. What I also what to mention is the welcome party that was organized by the staff for me and another exchange student from England – I was amazed by the friendliness of everyone!

I spent my last two weeks in Gynecology under Professor Kikkawa. Since I have always had a special interest in gynecology, these two weeks were probably my favorite two weeks in the whole rotation. I had the chance to assist in a lot of surgeries and I got to see a natural delivery which was my personal highlight. I also had the chance to learn more about IVF procedures which I have not seen before. It was really exciting for me and now I my interest in this special field is piqued.

Altogether, I had a very valuable experience in those three months in the university hospital of Nagoya. Thanks to its specialization, I saw a lot of rare diseases and I also got a good insight about what the everyday life in a Japanese hospital is like as well as the differences to Germany. I sincerely hope I can come back here one day; I met so many inspiring people and I hope to meet the physicians who taught me again some time in the future. Also, thanks to the awesome staff in the international office of the hospital, I always knew where to turn with my worries and questions.

To everyone who is struggling with the decision to go abroad, especially to Nagoya I want to say: Just do it! I made some of the best memories of my life here and I will always look back fondly on those times.

Click here to read other stories

<<Page back