Ideals and Objectives of the Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine Kyoto University aims to foster gifted clinicians and medical professionals to work on the frontline of medical care and also to nurture the next generation of researchers and educators in the medical field.
At Faculty of Medicine Kyoto University, we aim instill our students with the following qualities:
１．Intellectual originality that will enable a pro-active approach and provide new insight into the treatment of diseases rather than relying on existing methods.
２．Insight and awareness of patients’ feelings and a broad understanding of society and human behavior.
３．Good morals and a high degree of motivation to contribute to the health of society as a whole.
４．A global perspective and the ability to be active internationally.
Basic Principles of Kyoto University Hospital
１．Providing safe and high-quality medical care as a patient-centered hospital.
２．Contributing to society through the development and practice of new treatments.
３．Fostering medical professionals with a sense of mission, responsibility as well as compassion.
“Pre- and Post-graduate Medical Education
With a focus on achieving a seamless medical education from the undergraduate stage through graduation and beyond, the Center for Medical Education and Internationalization promotes courses in the following sequence.
Medical students, pharmacy students, and nursing students engage in interdisciplinary training at various healthcare settings of different scales. This interdisciplinary approach promotes mutual understanding and awareness of role-sharing and collaboration in healthcare.
In the My Course Program, students autonomously choose their placements. Some students conduct research abroad, and each student selects placements with an eye on their future areas of interest, fostering high motivation.
This course offers vital content for medical students participating in clinical practicum, including “Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning” and “Self-assessment of Clinical Skills.” It aims to enhance their practical skills in clinical medicine, building upon the knowledge acquired through lectures.
In collaboration with various affiliated hospitals, students undergo diverse practicums in both basic and specialized medical fields. Particularly in elective practicums where students autonomously choose placements, opportunities for self-discovery and overseas training are actively pursued.
As a comprehensive overview of basic clinical practicums, specialized clinical practicums, and elective practicums, students reflect on cases and experiences. The reflection process deepens the understanding from the perspectives of behavioral and social sciences.
In undergraduate education, the Center for Medical Education and Internationalization promotes participatory learning with the aim of facilitating a seamless transition to postgraduate education, especially in clinical training. The Vice Director of the Center for Medical Education Internationalization also serves as the Chair of the Training Management Committee at the Comprehensive Clinical Education and Training Center within the affiliated hospital, fostering robust collaboration. Furthermore, in the administration of standardized examinations, faculty members from both the Medical Education Center and the Clinical Training Center collaborate to ensure students receive adequate practice with simulation equipment.
Through this collaboration between the Center for Medical Education Internationalization and the Clinical Training Center at the affiliated hospital, a seamless transition between pre-graduate and post-graduate education is facilitated.
Moreover, clinical practicums at our university are conducted not only at the medical school’s affiliated hospital but also at cooperating external hospitals. These external practicum sites vary in size and specialty, with a majority being designated clinical training hospitals. Students learn a wide range of content from environments they may consider working in after graduation. Furthermore, many training coordinators at cooperating hospitals are clinical professors from Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, and an annual “Clinical Professors’ Council” is held to facilitate dialogue with representatives from practicum locations.”
Cultivating Holistic Perspectives and Professionalism
In undergraduate education, it is crucial not only to impart knowledge but also to foster a holistic and comprehensive viewpoint. Such perspectives, along with professionalism, are essential for contributing to society as clinicians or researchers. These qualities cannot be acquired through individual courses alone. Therefore, our university, in cooperation with faculty from various disciplines, cultivates these skills through an integrated vertical program.
In the first year Early Experiential Training I, students engage in clinical site visits soon after enrollment. In the second year, Early Experiential Training II sharpens their vision of a medical career through interviews with doctors working in diverse fields.
The Introductory course of Clinical Practice in the fourth year, and the Clinical Practice Review in the fifth and sixth years, offer learning opportunities that comprehensively cover behavioral science, social medicine, and clinical medicine, creating a distinctive program that develops a holistic and comprehensive outlook.
Additionally, our Interprofessional Education (IPE), in collaboration with the Pharmacy School and the School of Human Health Sciences, spans the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth years. This educational program is operated in collaboration with faculty from basic medicine, social medicine, behavioral science, clinical medicine, and the schools of pharmacy, human health sciences and the Center for Medical Education and Internationalization.
