Clinical Exchange in Japan

My name is Jenny Giang Ho and I am currently enrolled as 4th year medical student at Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg, Germany.

During my semester abroad at Nagoya University, I had the opportunity to participate in a one-month-long clinical internship at Nagoya University Hospital, which took place in December 2017. I had the honor to get insights into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as well as the department for Respiratory Medicine for two weeks each. When I first decided to apply for an exchange semester at Nagoya University, I was fiercely convinced that spending one semester abroad in Japan will be in all respects beneficial to me in regard to my academic career. I hoped to learn the language, as well as getting an insight into the Japanese medical system. Another important aim for me was to learn about possibilities after I graduated, such as possibilities to join international PhDPrograms, etc.

From the very beginning the clinical clerkship was very well organized, as the international office of NU was always very helpful to find solutions if any problems occurred. Furthermore, both of the departments I attended have been very well organized as well, since the doctors provided me with a personal schedule and were always very eager to translate and explain clinical cases to me. During my attendance in the department of respiratory medicine I even got the chance to study together with Japanese students and on that way it was possible for me to get an insight into the everyday life of a japanese medical student.

Looking back even though the language barrier was omnipresent leading me to not being able to understand fully and to not being able to talk to patients directly, I still take the view that I have gained much knowledge during my clinical rotations. As I know that I want to do my specialization in pediatrics, however I do not know in which field exactly, the clinical internship helped me getting an insight into various medical fields helping me with my decision. Another decisive point to add is that thanks to the clerkship I got to know many people not only being able to give me good advice and help but also being able to inspire and motivate me. Much more could be said to the subject under discussion, but to cut a long story short the obvious conclusion that can be drawn is that I surely have gained much professional knowledge, experience, broadened my horizon and got to know new people, hopefully friends, having different mindsets than I have. On that way, I have gained the ability to see certain facts of the case in another way which may lead to a better understanding of the community I am living in now. Furthermore, after having experienced a cross-cultural understanding, I would try to give back these experiences to my community by making use of my newly gained knowledge both privately and professionally.

Left: Me and the doctors from NICU
Right: Bronchoscopy simulation in the training room of NU