Clinical Exchange in Japan

There was nothing that could have prepared me for my rotation at Nagoya Univeristy. It was an enriching and eye-opening experience in so many ways. I chose to spend my time with the departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Plastic Surgery because I will be starting my residency training in Otorhinolaryngology after graduating from medical school in May 2015. This was my last clinical experience of medical school, but my first opportunity to see my future profession in an international setting. Having completed three months of ENT clerkships in the United States, I was able to contribute to some of the patient discussions while learning new techniques and procedures.

I was impressed with the global academic focus of the faculty members at Nagoya University. I studied the Japanese healthcare system in several classes while pursuing my MD/MPH dual degree at Tulane. But seeing how cultural values influence medical decision-making during my rotation gave me a much deeper understanding of the practice of medicine in Japan that I could never have received in the classroom.

Perhaps more than anything, I enjoyed the people that I met in Nagoya the most. Drs. Nishio, Fujimoto, and Sone treated me like a colleague and went out of their way to teach me about their patients and procedures despite their busy schedules. I will also never forget the Nagoya medical students on my team and how humor and laughter shattered any language barriers among us. I am so appreciative of the organization of the clinical experiences and the general hospitality that we received everywhere we traveled.

As an added bonus, my classmates and I were able to experience the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Words cannot describe the beauty that is Japan in the springtime. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!