Student Voices 2027 #006 School of Medicine

I am from a rural area, and when it came to choosing a university, I had a strong desire to move to Tokyo, where various information and resources are concentrated. The main reason I chose Keio University among other medical schools was that I felt the connections between current students and alumni were very strong, and that I would be able to gain positive inspiration from them.

Since enrolling, I have actually received wonderful advice and support from many seniors, and I truly feel the history of human interaction and cooperation that Keio University has passed down over many years.

At the Keio University School of Medicine, there is a program called Independent Study (see p. 44) in the third year, where all students join a laboratory and engage in research for a long period of four months. I have an interest in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, so I participated in an obstetrics laboratory. Based on the theory that a mother's lifestyle during and around pregnancy is related to the future disease risk of the child to be born, I launched an activity to disseminate health information for expectant and nursing mothers, which I am still continuing today.

In addition, in the fifth year, there is a program for a one-month clinical clerkship at an overseas hospital (see p. 45). About half of the students in the grade participate voluntarily, and I am scheduled to do my clerkship at the University of Cologne in Germany.

What I find most attractive since enrolling is that many students are devoted to activities outside of their academics. First and foremost are the club activities. I belong to the School of Medicine's soft tennis club, and Keio University is a powerhouse that has won the overall championship many times at the East Japan Medical Students' General Athletic Meet (a competition where medical students from 38 universities compete in 34 categories across 23 sports). In addition to club activities, I am inspired by my talented and energetic peers—students active in various student organizations, students involved in launching ventures, and students who have already achieved results in research—which makes me feel that I must work harder as well.

I am also active in several student organizations. In particular, with the Japan-China Medical Students' Exchange Association, which I put a lot of effort into, I visit medical schools and hospitals at universities in East Asia, including China, every year. I also serve as an executive committee member for the Yotsuya Festival (see p. 156), which is hosted by the three medical-related schools. It is a school festival where you can get a feel for the atmosphere of the School of Medicine and other medical-related schools, so please come and visit if you are interested.

In the future, I want to improve the medical literacy of the entire nation. Since it is a quite large goal, I sometimes felt that it might be difficult to achieve. However, by watching the examples set by my seniors who are active in various fields, I have come to believe that if I work hard, I can definitely get closer to my goal.

I think the Keio University School of Medicine is ideal for people who want to challenge themselves with various things while studying medical sciences. I would be happy if everyone could fully demonstrate their potential in this free and well-supported environment.

This article was published in the university guide for prospective students, "Guidebook 2027."

The latest guidebook can be viewed as a PDF or digital pamphlet. Please check the "Guidebook" webpage.