Exchange Program
Ramathibodi hospital, Mahidol university,Thailand

Takahiro Nakano

1. Introduction
I have had an elective course practiceat Ramathibodi hospital in Thailand
for one month. I spent first 2 weeks( September 1~11) in pulmonary
medicine department, and other 2weeks ( September 14~25) in family
medicine department. I planed to join
this elective course practice with twofriends. But because of the terrorism inAugust they canceled it. So I went toThailand alone. In Thailand in order toavoid the terrorism police officers
checked our baggage at the station.

2. About Ramathibodi hospital
It is located at thenear place from thecentral city. It takes
20 minutes to thevictory monument
station from it. It has
almost all thedepartments and is
one of the biggest
hospital in Bangkok.
Actually, there are
more patient in it
than Kobe University
Hospital. Most 5 or 6 grade students of Mahidol university live in thedormitory. They have night work and on call system though they arestudents. There are 4 beds in my room. It was clean and there is air
conditioner. House keeper cleaned my room every Friday for free. But I had
some trouble. The shower can not be warm. So I went to gym every day andtook shower there.

3. About pulmonary
medicine
I belonged to pulmonary
medicine from
September 1 to 11. I
want to learn about
tuberculosis. So I chose it.
Unfortunately, there is
no student. But many
professors and fellow
took care of me. I went tothe hospital at 9 am andfollowed the fellow everyday. I ate lunch for free at the seminar. The seminar was like“kennsyuui-seminar” in Kobe university hospital. The professors taught me
the ventilation system and respiratory sound and so on.
The fellows are sokind that they took me to the market and gave me some souvenir.

4. About family medicine department
I belonged to family
medicine department
from September 14 to
25. There is no family
medicine department
in Kobe university
hospital. So I want toknow what is thefamily medicine andhow the doctors work.
There are 2 things
which I am interested
in at family medicine
department. First thing is home visit. In Japan Many elderly patient die at
the hospital or nursing home or hospice. So I have no chance to visit patient’s
home in Kobe university hospital. When I visit the patient’s home inThailand, the patient had many problems, such as physical, psychological,
social and financial problems. Their care giver also had many burden. The
team of family medicine discussed about them in the car. I felt that they
cured not only the disease but also living environment. Second thing is 1:1
OFM teaching. In this activity, I took the patient’s history and physical exam
myself and then think about the diagnosis and assessment. It was verydifficult for me, and I felt I have to study hard. The students at family
medicine department took care of me and I went to lunch, dinner, shopping,sightseeing with them. I really enjoyed.

5. Conclusion
I went to Thailand alone. So during first week, I was a little bit
homesickness. But Thai people are so kind and I could make friends easily.
They took me to dinner, some famous temples and so on. Now I am
“Thaisickness”. Because of their kindness, I could learn about Thai cultureand medicine. I had precious experience. I want to use this experience andthen be a good doctor