Shantou University Medical Student Experience provides students with a real Canadian experience
This spring, U of T Medicine hosted six medical students from Shantou University Medical College in Shantou City, China. The eight-week program included observer rotations to provide students with exposure to the practice of medicine in Canada.
“We planned a very rich and diverse program that gave students the opportunity to see first-hand our universal health care system, how we practice medicine in Canada as well as the opportunity to experience our unique culture,” says Dr. Cheng Tao Wang, Program Lead for the Shantou University Medical Student Experience (SUMSE).
This annual program included one-week observer rotations in Cardiology, Family Medicine, Surgery, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at St. Michael's Hospital with Geriatrics rotation at North York General and Emergency Medicine rotation at Toronto Western, Toronto General and St. Michael's Hospital. The program also included small group sessions on global health and the Canadian medical education system.
“[The rotations] helped me build up clinical thinking, and I can learn how to communicate with different people. It was a really good experience,” said Shuo (Jacky) Liu, SUMSE Student.
To ensure each student had a productive and meaningful experience, students were paired with a U of T medical student who acted as a guide for their education and cultural experience.
The program culminated in a celebratory wrap-up session where students had the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences and shared insights gained through participation in the program.
At the session, students discussed how their experiences would benefit their practice and the value of seeing the Canadian medical system in action.
They remarked on the importance of making the patient feel comfortable and heard, and how the doctors they observed took an active interest in their patients. SUMSE student Wei Kai (James) Wang was grateful for his experience and stated “To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always. That is the real life as a family doctor.”
Students also noted the doctor’s efforts to communicate and educate patients and their efforts to help patients understand details about their health and treatment options. Students observed the benefits of this approach and indicated that they will look to implement the approach in their own practice.
“This trip in Canada has become one of the most interesting things in my life, and I will surely keep those memories in my mind and heart,” concludes Junzhe (Jim) Huang, SUMSE Student.
SUMSE students, faculty and staff participated in a wrap up session where students shared their experiences and key learnings. From left to right Weikai (James) Wang, SUMSE Student, Susan Romulo, International Visiting Elective & Home School Global Health Administrative Coordinator, Shuo (Jacky) Liu, SUMSE Student, Dan (Sarah) Zhou, SUMSE student, Dr. Trevor Young, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Seetha Radhakrishnan, Pediatric Nephrologist at The Hospital for Sick Children and Electives course director, Dr. C. Tao Wang, Program Lead for SUMSE, Mengqi (Mark) Dong, SUMSE student, Liangyou (Tye) Zhang, SUMSE Student, Annamarie Butler, Coordinator and Student Support for SUMSE, Junzhe (Jim) Huang, SUMSE Student, and Dr. Ra Han, Director of Medical Education, Department of Pediatrics, St. Michael's Hospital.