Overview of Clinical Clerkship
Clinical clerkships are conducted from the third term of the 4th year to the second term of the 6th year. In this clerkship, students are divided into small groups of 6–7 to rotate through various departments. By interacting directly with patients, students deepen their knowledge of medical sciences and medical care and improve their skills. At the same time, they learn essential abilities for medical professionals, such as responsibility, leadership, and cooperation. In recent years, as the importance of clinical clerkships has increased, Keio University has also been working to enhance its clinical clerkship programs. Its characteristics are explained below.
Student Doctor Clinical Clerkship
Clinical clerkships are conducted using two methods depending on the department: Student Doctor clinical clerkships (participatory) and observational clinical clerkships. In a Student Doctor clinical clerkship, students become members of the medical team and participate in medical care alongside residents and attending physicians, learning clinical medicine in the process. Of course, students do not make final decisions on diagnosis or treatment plans, but they are given the opportunity to interview patients, perform examinations themselves, and consider diagnoses and treatments. Previously, observational clerkships were the primary method, but recently, Student Doctor clinical clerkships have become the focus. By participating directly in clinical practice, students not only gain strong motivation for their studies but also begin training in clinical reasoning (thinking about diagnosis and treatment) from their time as students.
Departments Conducting Clinical Clerkships
At the Keio University School of Medicine, clerkships proceed in two phases: the first cycle in the 5th year, and the second cycle from the third term of the 5th year through the 6th year.
First Cycle
Students learn the foundations of medical sciences: Internal Medicine (11 weeks), Surgery (7 weeks), Pediatrics (2 weeks), Obstetrics (2 weeks), Gynecology (2 weeks), Psychiatry (2 weeks), Orthopedic Surgery (2 weeks), Anesthesiology and Palliative Medicine (2 weeks), Clinical Transfusion Medicine (1 week), and Laboratory Medicine (1 week).
Second Cycle
Students experience Advanced Internal Medicine (4 weeks), Radiology (2 weeks), Urology (2 weeks), Otolaryngology (2 weeks), Ophthalmology (2 weeks), Dermatology (2 weeks), Emergency Medicine (2 weeks), Plastic Surgery (1 week), Rehabilitation Medicine (1 week), Dentistry (1 week), Clinical Pathology (1 week), and Elective Clinical Clerkship (2 weeks). Furthermore, in the Community-Based Clinical Clerkship (4 weeks), students stay at a teaching hospital affiliated with the Keio University School of Medicine for four weeks to learn about community medicine in an environment different from the university hospital.
Clerkships at External Hospitals
In programs such as the Community-Based Clinical Clerkship, Advanced Internal Medicine, and Elective Clinical Clerkship, students also undergo training at teaching hospitals affiliated with the Keio University School of Medicine (hospitals where many Keio University School of Medicine graduates work and which have been requested to provide student education). At external hospitals, students can experience more practical training and encounter common diseases that may have fewer cases at the university hospital.
Study Rooms
The National Examination for Medical Practitioners is held in February of the 6th year. Students voluntarily begin studying for the exam around their 5th year. They can be seen studying late into the night using study rooms located in several places on campus and group study rooms at the Shinanomachi Media Center.