2024 Student from TU Dresden:Clinical training at the Dept of Medicine
Name: Anna Kokhanova
Home Institution/ Country: TU Dresden/Germany
Year of university: 6th
Designated department at Shinshu University: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Division of Cardiovascular
Training Period: from Nov.18, 2023 to Mar.09, 2024
Training: Clinical training
1. What made you come train at Shinshu University School of Medicine and how did you find the School through your stay?
I decided to come train at Shinshu University as it was offered by our university as part of an exchange program between these two universities and Shinshu's educational offering convinced- as well as matched my future professional interests. I subdivided my stay at the internal medicine department into two months of Gastroenterology and two months of Cardiology. I found both areas very educational during my stay and was able to gain a lot of new knowledge in these areas, both practically and theoretically.
2. Please describe your training at host department/lab.
It was a very diverse and educational environment. The doctors on both the gastro and cardiology departments were very accommodating and tried to show me all possible medical areas and teach me activities. I was familiarized with diagnostics (imaging: sonography, ultrasound, EGD, echocardiography, etc.), different forms of therapy (ESD, ERCP, POEM procedure, TAVI, PCI, PDA treatment, etc.) and with the aftercare of patients among many other things. I was also involved in the processing of patients cases, to further develop a doctor's approach to treatment and was offered to present these cases in the clinical rounds. Highlights such as practicing the ECG procedure on simulation dolls at the Gastroenterology department or trying to detect heart murmurs on simulation dolls at the Cardiology department have given me a lot of added value to my medical education.
3. Please list what you have gained from your experiences through the training at Shinshu University and the stay in Matsumoto, Japan.
I gained an incredible amount from this exchange, both culturally and medically. Above all, I saw the differences between the Japanese and German healthcare systems, but also internalized the different treatment approaches. Furthermore, I was able to accompany the remarkable work of the doctors and better understand and implement many of their activities. I was also able to learn a little Japanese during my stay and I really enjoyed working with the Japanese doctors. Being surrounded by the mountain scapes and the peaceful serenity of Matsumoto, I was able to relax after work and during the weekends, to absorb the beautiful nature, but also the cultural program Matsumoto has to offer.
4. How do you think you can apply those experiences to your future career?
The experience I gained at Shinshu University will be very useful to me in the future, both personally and job-wise. The intercultural collaboration with other people, but also the intensification and deepening of my medical knowledge will give me added value in my profession. Furthermore the cultural politeness and strive for perfectionism in work, which japanese culture has to offer and one has internalized throughout their stay, will also accompany in the future.
5. Advice to those who are interested in studying at Shinshu University
My advice to future exchange students is to be open-minded in Japan and to consciously face challenges, even if the language barrier might sometimes get in the way. You are always welcomed very warmly and receive a lot of understanding and help from your fellow Japanese people. It also helps to learn a few Japanese phrases during your stay so that you can establish, if not full-fledged, contact with patients.
