Clinical Exchange in Japan

I had such an amazing experience doing an exchange at Nagoya University School of Medicine. My first rotation was Geriatrics. It was an amazing balance between learning about Geriatrics in Japan and having time to explore Japanese culture. I would highly recommend this rotation to those seeking a great work-life balance while in Japan. Although I don’t speak Japanese, the department was very welcoming and spoke English with me. They threw me a welcoming party as well. Professor Kuzuya and Dr. Inna were very accommodating to what I wanted to learn and do in Japan. I really appreciate how supportive they were. In the mornings, I would drop off my belongings in the locker that they assigned to me, and then I would make way to daily rounds on the wards. They would translate for me what was happening to the patients. I had the opportunity to work closely with the other medical students on the rotation as well, which was a great experience. On Tuesdays, there is a conference around 5pm, and on Wednesday afternoons there are usually ward rounds with Professor Kuzuya. Dr. Inna would also give lectures about Geriatrics in Japan, which were very interesting. Overall, I couldn’t have imagined a better rotation to start off with at Nagoya University School of Medicine!

My next elective at the Department of General Medicine/Family & Community Medicine was a great learning experience. The schedule is very organized so I knew exactly where I was supposed to be each day. I felt like part of the team, even though I don’t speak Japanese. The whole department was very welcoming. Everyday lunch was planned for me so that I could have more time interacting with the doctors, and sometimes medical students. I met so many wonderful doctors and had a great variety of experiences, ranging from daily duties on the wards to rural hospitals and clinics. Although I don’t speak Japanese, the doctors were able to work with me and teach me many things. I appreciate how the morning conferences and ward rounds were translated for me. I learned about so many different diseases that were commonly seen at Nagoya University Hospital. There was a patient in her 30s with Takayasu’s arteritis, which I have only read about up until this rotation. There were also patients with Bechet’s disease and takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

I also went to the countryside in Nakatsugawa and Kachigawa to see rural patients, both inpatient and outpatient. At the Nakatsugawa rural clinic with Dr. Okazaki, I saw how common hypertension and diabetes were among elderly Japanese patients. It was very interesting going to a clinic where we had to remove our shoes and wear slippers. I also got to see more of Nakatsugawa through home visits and picking up/dropping off patients, seeing how beautiful of a town it is. Overall, it was a great experience with Professor Ban and I learned a lot about the Japanese healthcare and medical education system!

left: Department of Geriatrics Welcome Party
right: Hanami with other students living in the dormitory

Picture with one of the 6th year Nagoya University medical students