In December, six students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine completed their three-month clinical rotations at UNMC.
In the past, I have interviewed trainees and exchange students before they returned to China. This has the benefit of immediacy – memories are fresh in the students’ and scholars’ minds. However, the disadvantage of this approach is that we cannot see how trainees’ time at UNMC has actually affected their work or studies. So, hoping to gain some insight into this, I decided to interview the clinical exchange students from Shanghai Jiao Tong a month after they returned from the US.
I talked with two of the Shanghai Jiao Tong students, Yixi HE and Wanqin "Wendy" ZENG.
What is your best memory of your time here?
Yixi: "My favorite memory is of my trip to LA with my friends, but maybe this isn’t what you want me to say. ^_^ Aside from that, I liked the conferences and lectures that I attended. It was really helpful to discuss and share different ideas."
Wanqin: "The best thing for me was Thanksgiving Day. The gathering and event reminded me to always be kind and grateful, treasuring people and everything around me. That is an essential thing which we often neglect."
Have you changed your career goals since studying at UNMC?
Yixi: "No. I still want to be a neurologist."
Wanqin: "My experience at UNMC really opened windows for me. Since my rotations there, I have developed an interest in Oncology, especially Radiation Oncology. Nowadays, I am trying to gain some experience in Oncology in China, because the working model and environment are different between the US and China. I am not sure whether I will take this as my career now, but I will work hard to explore and try."
Wil you change how you interact with patients because of your time at UNMC?
Yixi: "My time at UNMC improved my way of interacting with patients. Discussing topics besides illnesses can create a better relationship between patients and doctors. I also learned that sometimes it is necessary to show our sympathy for our patients."
Wanqin: "The most important thing I learned about interacting with patients is to smile. I used to have a stiff face, although I have a warm heart. Now I know that smiling can really help, comfort, and spread love."