Clinical clerkship in Thomas Jefferson University

First of all, I'd like to appreciate all of the doctors and staffs who took care of me. The program was well organized so I could observe a lot of thigs. The lectures were also really nice and helpful. I definitely recommend this study to my juniors in my university. I'll introduce a part of what I've learned in TJU from now.


One of the most impressive things is about the question of sexual activity and elicits drugs. It's included in the annual checkup for children. I know such a question should be asked to protect the health in the community and to rule out some of the disease. Besides, it's important at the educational point of view with no doubt. However, it's a little embarrassing to ask or answer such a question so I learned in the TJU how to make doctors and patients feel more comfortable. I have two strategies now. One thing is to make this question a part of routine question. If many doctors do that, patients think it for granted. Another is to be confident as a doctor when he or she asks about them. If doctors seem embarrassed or awkward, patients feel uncomfortable.


Another impressive thing is volunteer activities such as JeffHOPE and China town clinic. I went to Our Brother's Place to participate in JeffHOPE. This volunteer group is organized by students and residents. People in the shelter really needed their help mentally and physically. Most of them I saw lost their confidence in his life so the students took history encouraging them gently with sweet compliments. That was amazing because they exactly saw the people as people not as the disease. Men in the faculty trusted the students as experts and the students themselves behave as experts. That was an ideal situation of medicine. Another good point of this activity is in an educational aspect. 2nd year students took history from the patients with the help of 3rd year students. After that, they discussed and made it clear what caused the patient's problem and then, consulted the resident doctors. In this way, students can practice their history taking and physical tests and also doctors correct their mistake. I found this kind of volunteer is a good opportunity for students to learn and American doctors are good at using students as human resources.


Through this program, I could observe medicine from a different point of view. The medicine in our country is also good, though, some systems in the US should be introduced into ours to make it better. I'll keep on thinking about it and try to realize it in the future.