Report of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Clinical Training report

 

Country / Regions

United State of America

School

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University (USA)

Elective period

17th August to 21st August 2026

Program

International Exchange Program

 

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in a clinical observership at Thomas Jefferson University. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at Osaka Metropolitan University who made this opportunity possible, as well as to the Japan Center at Thomas Jefferson University for arranging and coordinating the program. I am also deeply grateful to all the doctors, medical students, and healthcare professionals who warmly welcomed us throughout the program.

During the observership, I had the opportunity to observe various clinical settings, including internal medicine, pediatrics, outpatient clinics, and emergency medicine. One of the most memorable experiences was participating in JeffHOPE. JeffHOPE provides free medical care to people who have difficulty accessing adequate healthcare. What impressed me most was that medical students took the initiative in many aspects of patient care, including medical interviews, triage, and prescribing medications. Seeing medical students actively involved in patient care as members of the healthcare team made me realize the differences between medical education and clinical practice in the United States and Japan.

I was also impressed by how medical students spent time with children by reading books to them, helping them study, and playing with them. I had the opportunity to observe the medical students providing care and to spend time with the children, which was a very valuable experience. Through JeffHOPE, I learned that healthcare providers can support patients not only by providing medical treatment but also by understanding and supporting their lives. My experiences at JeffHOPE and the Chinese Clinic made me feel that medical students in the United States have more opportunities to interact closely with patients than medical students in Japan. I was impressed by how actively they participated in clinical care and took responsibility as members of the healthcare team.

Another aspect that impressed me was the way doctors communicated with their patients. During consultations, doctors consistently turned toward their patients, made eye contact, and listened carefully to what they had to say. I felt that these simple actions were very important for building trust between doctors and patients. This experience reminded me of the importance of seeing patients not simply as diseases or symptoms, but as individuals with their own lives and feelings.

During the observership, I learned about the healthcare system in the United States and gained a deeper understanding of how healthcare professionals should communicate with and care for their patients. Experiencing both the American and Japanese healthcare systems gave me an opportunity to think about what kind of physician I would like to become. I hope to apply what I learned in the United States to my daily clinical training and, in the future, contribute to healthcare in Japan as a physician.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who supported me throughout this valuable experience. In particular, I am deeply grateful to the Japan Center at Thomas Jefferson University for carefully arranging and supporting our program. I hope to carry this experience with me throughout my future medical education and career as a physician.