In China, working professionals and younger students proved to be more proficient in English than university students. (Photo : Wikimedia)
Students from Tsinghua University had the time of their lives during a recently concluded trip to the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine (Pitt Med). For these doctors-in-training, the visit is an enlightening experience, opening a wealth of opportunities to excel in their chosen medical field.
The partnership between Pitt Med and Tsinghua University School of Medicine, which was signed on April 24, 2011, has allowed 25 to 45 students from the prestigious Chinese university to train and learn from some of the very best instructors.
Such is the case of Li Jiatong, who is training at the laboratory of a noted neurosurgeon and researcher, Robert Friedlander.
"The neuroscience is full of unknown and I have been very attracted by that," Li shared to Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong. She arrived in Pitt Med a year ago and is well into her last year in the institution.
"I will treasure the remaining time at Pitt Med, study hard and work hard and strive to make myself a neurosurgeon and researcher," she said.
Another Tsinghua student and aspiring physician, Chen Zhaohan, is soaking up on the opportunities provided through the partnership program.
Aside from advanced scientific research methods, academic thinking, and working with people from different backgrounds and disciplines, the students are now able to express themselves in English as well.
The dean of Pitt Med. Arthur Levine, is happy the program has benefited a lot of eager students. In an interview with China Daily, he expressed his delight:
"Our partnership with Tsinghua has developed beautifully. Many of the Tsinghua students are equal to excellent graduate students and even post-doctoral fellows, despite that they had relatively little research experience before coming here."
There are currently 67 Tsinghua students in the partnership program and 12 more are expected to come to Pitt Med this summer.
