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Dear medical students,

My name is Miroslav Peev. At the beginning of my last year of medical school (in Cologne, Germany) I performed the elective in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan in September 2007. I trained 3 weeks under the direct supervision of Assoc. Prof. Takanari Arai M.D., director of the Center for the Advancement of Pregnancy, Perinatal and Infant Care, “CAPPIC”.

1. Motivation
There were many reasons why I choose Japan and particularly Kanazawa University Hospital for my OB/GYN elective. Firstly, Japan is a country that provides high standard of medicine especially in the surgical fields like Obstetrics and Gynecology. Secondly, the Japanese surgeons are considered as one of best due to their great training and huge educational background.

2. CAPPIC Center
During my elective I was assigned at the Center for the Advancement of Pregnancy, Perinatal and Infant Care “CAPPIC”. This Center provides a high-speed internet, conference room and facilities needed for performing of presentations. It is also a place where the students can get some rest or they can study from world-famous internet sources like “Up to Date”, “New England Journal of Medicine”, “American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology” and many other resources, access-free. But not to forget the great library at the Center itself, equipped with names like Te’Linde’s Operative Gynecology or Williams’ Obstetrics (of course the latest edition). Another thing I found very impressive was the “SIM CAPPIC” or the Simulation Center. Here the students can use several models to advance their medical skills- Ultrasound, Pelvic examination, Delivery model, Breast examination and Neonatal resuscitation.

3. My experience
There is only one word that can describe my experience and the teaching here - GREAT. Not only because of the perfectly equipped Center but also because of the way how they teach in this department. Perhaps a simple example will be very helpful- I learned here for three weeks more things about OB/GYN and about medicine than in my medical school for 5 years and frankly my med school has a great reputation and many traditions. And why is their teaching so good…I do not know, but I can tell you what I experienced.
I was involved in the routine work of the clinic and was integrated in the team from the first day. I had always a supervisor who was giving me a complete explanation about the different procedures or treatments. I had to perform presentations for everything that I saw on the ward or in the operation room; topics like “Twins”, “Transabdominal Hysterectomy”, “Myomectomy”, and many others. After each case I had a discussion with my supervisor so that I was able to understand exactly what happened- and honestly that was the best way to expand my knowledge. The doctors in Kanazawa use PBL (Problem Based Learning) to teach, this model was developed in the United States and has already proved its high effectiveness. I was trained in the Simulation Center but also in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - here the motto was “Learning by doing”: sounds great and it really was.
During my stay in CAPPIC I participated in conferences, rounds, operations, attended deliveries, performed presentations and attended outpatient and inpatient clinic. There was always a very friendly atmosphere not only among the doctors but also among my student peers, who also became my friends. They included me in many after-school activities.

4. My recommendation
I would like to recommend wholeheartedly this program to everybody who is interested in OB/GYN and to everybody who wants to learn a lot and to enjoy working in a team of great professionals but also in a team of good friends.

Miroslav Peev
Cologne School of Medicine
Germany

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