Last month, the St. Mary’s First Aid Club had the opportunity to visit and tour the Jikei University School of Medicine. Thanks to the school nurse, Ms. Bingham, students interested in pursuing medical school were able to gain valuable insights from Dr. Ohashi, a pediatrician and professor at Jikei University, Mr.Yuki Aoyama, an alumnus of SMIS and a sixth-year student at the university, Dr. Kayama, an orthopedic surgeon, and Mr.Igusa, the head of the department of education at the university. Special thanks to our school nurse, Ms.Bingham, for sharing information with The Diplomat. This tour was initially proposed by Ms. Bingham, who has connections with Dr. Ohashi and also has experience lecturing about nursing at the nursing department of Jikei School.
Mock lecture: Learning about Medical School
The exciting tour started with a mock lecture, where Dr.Ohashi, Mr.Aoyama, and the students in the lecture hall for a mock lecture. Students learned about the deep history of the hospital, as well as what it takes to learn at med school, and the long-term commitment required for success. As a current sixth-year medical student, Mr.Ayoma shared the reality of studying medicine and also shared useful study habits and tips for the medical exams. Overall, hearing directly from a St.Mary’s graduate made the entire experience more relatable and personal for the students, giving club members a clear idea of what it takes to be successful in medical school.
The first aid club students also had the chance to take part in a Q&A session where members could freely ask questions and discuss with medical professionals. This session was led by a few key figures, including Dr.Ohashi, Mr.Aoyama, Mr.Igusa (head of department of education), and Dr.Kayama, an orthopedic surgeon who currently also practices as an orthopedic surgeon in the UK. The St.Mary’s students set a strong impressions for the medical professionals, hoping that this will become an annual event from now on.
The tour
After the mock lecture, the students separated into groups for the university campus tour, the biggest highlight of the tour for the club
members. The tour included a visit to three departments: The department of orthopedic surgery, the division of regenerative medicine, and the division of gene therapy. Students in the division of orthopaedic surgery also learned how to wear and remove a cast using a real cast saw. Through the tour, students were able to see how real medical environments where research and medical practice take place. This tour allowed club members to gain primary insight into medical professionalism, and potentially helped them to find a specific medical field of interest. Tyler, a member of the first aid club, expressed his gratitude by saying, “During my experience at Jikei University, I learnt a lot about regenerative cells, and the attempt at curing incurable diseases using IPS cells. It was really interesting learning about these things and observing real IPS cells, as well as looking at the laboratory environment. Overall, Jikei University(and hospital) had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, whilst tackling major medical challenges.”
Overall, the Jikei University medical school tour was a valuable experience that allowed First Aid Club members to gain primary insight into the medical field through direct exposure and insights that can only come from real-world experience. The visit made a lasting memory for all members, potentially inspiring future opportunities and interests of St.Mary’s students.
