Chen, Chin-Hsi（July 2014）

Learning Experience in Hospital of Tsukuba University

It was an experience of a serious of innovations and excitements.

In my 4-week-learning in University of Tsukuba Hospital, I experienced Japanese style rotation of clerkship training and learned high technology of the hospital. My rotation was composed of 2-week of gastroenterology and 2-week of cardiology department. In this period, I learned in University of Tsukuba Hospital with Japanese medical school students of fifth grade. The students explained the cases and learning materials kindly for me in the chart rounds and teaching rounds so that I could understand better.

I experienced many different kinds of learning which I had never experienced in my country. In my rotation of gastroenterology department, I saw many endoscopic procedures including emergent procedures and the latest chemical treatments and studies for gastric carcinoma. Besides, the doctor took me to GI endoscope meeting of Ibaraki Prefecture, I learned a lot about the latest researches and technology of GI endoscope in Japan. In my rotation of cardiology department, I was excited to see the procedures of catheter ablation for arrhythmia, which is famous in Hospital of Tsukuba University. I was impressed because it was my first time of entering the catheter room. Besides, the doctors took me to the 29th Annual Meeting of Japanese Heart Rhythm Society in Tokyo and kindly explained for me. I learned a lot in the paper presentations and saw many new devices of catheter in the meeting.

The staff of OPIMA were very hospitable. They helped me adapted to life in University of Tsukuba and treated me generously. The students in Tsukuba International Medical Students' Association (TIMSA) took me and other foreign students to climb the Mt. Tsukuba and had a wonderful dinner together.

It was always a dream of me in university to experience the study in hospital as Japanese medical school students. My dream finally came true with OPIMA. I am especially thankful for this opportunity. I can say that this was definitely the most unforgettable and wonderful learning experience in my life. I believe that my career life in the future will be better with this fabulous experience.