Report of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Report of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

 

Country / Regions

Japan

School

Osaka Metropolitan University

Elective period

29th July to 2nd August 2024

 

• Introduction
First of all, I would like to thank the staff of Thomas Jefferson University, the staff of Osaka Metropolitan University, and the students who traveled with me on this trip for their cooperation. My goal for this short-term study abroad program was to understand how different Japanese medical students and clinical situations are compared to those in the United States.

• Observations and Learnings
Hospital Staff and Patient Care:
In the United States, the range of work for hospital staff is highly segmented, with a high level of specialty. A team of attending physicians, residents, and medical students operates the internal medicine wards. What surprised me was that the students had as much responsibility for the patients as the residents. They understood the patients' problems in detail and actively gave their opinions on changing treatment plans or consulting with other departments. It was inspiring to see students make a high-level presentation for senior doctors and discuss it with them on a similar level.

Comparison with Japan:
I felt there was no clear difference between Japan and the U.S. in the level of medical care. Pediatric outpatient checkups for infants were almost the same in Japan. On the other hand, the cost of treatment and drugs was much higher than in Japan. The Japanese social security system is very supportive, allowing patients to receive standard medical care with little co-payment.

Unique Cases:
I also experienced unique cases in the U.S. that do not appear in Japan. I observed a patient with drug abuse in the ER. Drug addiction is a common disease in the U.S., especially in the northern section of Philadelphia. It was very memorable to see the unique situation in the U.S.

JeffHOPE:
JeffHOPE is a facility for homeless people in Philadelphia, run primarily by TJU students. It supports the health of homeless people by providing medications and hygiene products as needed. The students there were all energetic and full of volunteer spirit. And they cooperated to treat many poor people effectively. I think Japanese medical students should experience volunteering like this. This experience allows them to grow their hospitality and cooperativeness.

• Reflections on English
Through this experience, I was able to clarify what I can and cannot do in English. I have been working on online English conversations almost every day for six months since deciding to take part in this program. However, I had many difficulties with speaking and listening in the context of daily composition and medical interviews. I strongly thought that I would enjoy talking and discussing with many foreign people if I was more good at speaking and listening.

• Reflections on Medicine
Through this experience, I strongly felt the high level of knowledge and presentation skills of American medical students. I strongly felt that I needed to make more effort to improve my knowledge and skills as a medical student. I also felt that the spirit of hospitality toward patients that I gained from volunteering and Dr. Majdan's lecture is very important in Japanese medicine, and I felt that I would like to cherish it and pass it on to other Japanese medical students.

• Conclusion
Through this experience, I was able to redefine my goals and measure the distance between myself and them. One week may seem short, but it is up to the individual to decide how to make the most of it. I hope that many more Osaka Metropolitan University medical students will have a meaningful experience at Thomas Jefferson University.

Thank you.