What Do Chinese and Polish Students Say About Clinical Training at PCTU?

On the afternoon of August 13, Phan Chau Trinh University of Medical Sciences and Hospital organized a clinical internship closing session for medical students from the University of Zielona Góra (Poland) and Jilin University (China).

During their time at Phan Chau Trinh University of Medical Sciences Hospital, the students completed clinical rotations in Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, gaining direct exposure to the real clinical environment alongside the hospital's medical team.

One student from Jilin University shared that in the Internal Medicine Department, they were not simply observing but were guided by doctors to take patient histories, analyze test results, and think through diagnostic approaches. They were particularly impressed by the case of a patient who came in only for a routine health check-up but, through examination, was found to have signs of jaundice and was subsequently diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease. According to the student, this experience helped them understand that many serious diseases can be detected through very small details in clinical practice.

The student also observed many gastrointestinal endoscopy and polypectomy cases, realizing that the pathophysiology knowledge learned in lectures became much more “alive” when connected to real patients.

When rotating to the Surgery Department, what surprised the student was the difference between learning surgical theory and experiencing surgery in practice. From cases involving hernias, kidney stones, trigger fingers to breast surgery, the student was impressed by how the entire surgical team coordinated in the operating room.

“Here, I clearly see that patient care is not only about the surgery itself, but begins with preoperative assessment and continues throughout the postoperative period,” the international student shared.

Meanwhile, the Polish students said that the most memorable experience was gaining exposure to multiple cases of vaginal delivery and cesarean section, monitoring CTG, and observing high-risk pregnancies. They shared that in Poland, opportunities to directly observe such a wide range of vaginal deliveries are not always common, making this a particularly valuable experience.

One international student said that after the CTG session, they gained a clearer understanding of why fetal heart rate monitoring is important for the early detection of risks to both mother and baby.

The point mentioned most frequently by the students was the difference in learning approaches. According to them, students in their home countries often learn extensively from textbooks and lectures, while at PCTU, learning takes place right alongside patients. Students can listen to doctors explain each clinical decision, ask questions, participate in discussions, and observe the entire process of actual patient management from beginning to end.

It was precisely this combination of real cases, doctors, and the hospital environment that created a valuable internship experience, allowing the international students to take home not only professional knowledge but also memorable clinical experiences from their time in Vietnam.

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