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

 

First, I would like to thank all involved for providing me with this learning opportunity, doctors and medical staff who offered me such thoughtful guidance. In this report, I will share what I learned during this program.

I’m not one to like change by nature, so I had never even considered participating in an overseas training program. However, I decided to join this program because I wanted to gain a variety of experiences in order to develop a multifaceted perspective.

During this program, I observed three outpatient departments: Family Medicine, Oncology, and Pediatrics, and there were two points in particular where I noticed differences compared to Japan.

The first point is a system in which “patients wait in individual examination rooms rather than in a waiting area, and the doctor comes to them.” Under the Japanese style of medical care (where patients are called in one by one), people with physical disabilities may take a long time to move from one place to another. In the United States, on the other hand, each doctor is assigned multiple examination rooms, allowing patients to move about at their own pace. I was particularly impressed by the fact that patients do not feel rushed and that their privacy is strictly maintained.

The second point is a system that “records conversations and automatically transcribes them into medical records using AI.” With this system in place, doctors no longer had to type on a computer during conversations, allowing them to maintain eye contact with patients throughout and engage in face-to-face interactions.

The effectiveness of these systems was especially notable in the Oncology Outpatient Department. First, an oncologist explains the condition and chemotherapy. Then, without having to move, the patient receives an explanation of radiation therapy from a radiologist in the same room. Furthermore, nurses and other medical staff also visit that room to review necessary documents or confirm the next appointment, so all interactions are completed within a single room. I truly felt that the absence of the burden of moving between departments was a major benefit for patients. Furthermore, given the nature of departments that treat cancer and tumors —where many patients experience anxiety— I was deeply impressed by how the doctors’ practice of making eye contact and listening attentively seemed to instill a sense of reassurance in the patients.

Regarding these two systems, while the former poses challenges for implementation in Japan —where land is limited— due to the vast amount of space it requires, I felt that the latter —AI-generated medical records— is a technology that should be actively adopted in Japan as well, provided that the issue of obtaining patient consent can be resolved.

In addition to outpatient care, I observed an emergency department, internal medicine team rounds, JeffHOPE, and Chinatown Clinic. I was particularly inspired by the high level of initiative shown by the local medical students I met while JeffHOPE and Chinatown Clinic.

Through this program, I was reminded that, whether in Japan or the United States, the heart of medical practice lies in “effective communication with patients.” At the same time, I realized that continuing to learn is essential. Drawing on this experience, I will strive to become a physician who possesses solid medical knowledge, always puts myself in the patient’s shoes, and chooses the right words to convey information effectively.