Clinical Exchange in Japan

It was my pleasure to join the exchange program for one month in Nagoya university hospital. I remembered myself feeling so nervous while first arriving Japan on my own. However, the people there in the hospital were all so kind and patient to me. They shared so much medical knowledge and life experience with me, which not only relaxed me a lot, but also enriched my life.

The first department I have been to was Obstetrics and Gynaecology. During the rotation, I not only had a chance to observe the operation, such as Caesarean section, surgery for adenomyoma, but I also learned how the doctors take care of the pregnant in the wards. I was so grateful for the doctors there, who explained every case they had examined or cared to me. They either slowed down the speed they talked, or drew a picture, which made me understand the situation better. Also, I was so impressed by the support the doctors and nurses had given to the pregnant women. I decided at the time that I would become such a doctor in the future, who explained the situation kindly, and always encouraged the patients a lot.

The second department I have been to was Geriatrics. Besides the chance to observe the doctors caring the patient in the wards, I also had an opportunity to experience the “Home healthcare” in this rotation. The doctors in the department were all willing to discuss the problems they encountered during the daily practice with me, and Dr. Onishi even spent time to introduce the long-term caring system in Japan to me, which inspired me a lot. Furthermore, I had followed Dr. Shi, who is a resident from China, most of the time in these two weeks. I had learned lots of medical knowledge in Rheumatology and about edema from some of her patients, and had known a lot about the doctors’ life in Japan from her. I had learned so much, and had experienced a fruitful life in this rotation.

I had been passionate about Japanese culture before the opportunity to attend the program. And after the experience, I had a chance to know Japan more, not only in medicine, but also in culture and life. I was so grateful for the faculties and the doctors in the university, who welcomed me warmly and taught me so much. And I hope that we will meet again in the future!