Vietnamese medical students gain practical experience at Purdue Northwest University

Recently, 26 students from various countries, including 12 Vietnamese medical students from Tan Tao University, participated in a special session led by Prof. Dr. Ernest Talarico. Dr. Talarico is a visiting lecturer at Tan Tao University School of Medicine and a visiting lecturer in Anatomy & Physiology at the College of Biological Sciences, Purdue University. The session provided hands-on training in diagnostic skills and enhanced their understanding of patient care.

During the session, Prof. Dr. Ernest Talarico guided the students in analyzing the age-related indicators of a virtual patient using the advanced Anatomage Table. Through detailed examinations of arthritis and spinal degeneration, he helped the students gain a deeper understanding of how to assess a patient’s condition before revealing that the patient was a 77-year-old woman.

This session is part of a one-month U.S. internship program that offers the medical students invaluable practical experiences. The program also includes practice sessions at St. Mary Medical Center and Methodist Hospital, aimed at enhancing clinical skills and preparing the students to provide the best possible patient care upon their return to Vietnam.

He emphasized the importance of case-based learning, which is considered key for students to develop critical thinking and become true “medical detectives.” Through his teaching methods, he is also striving to elevate the skills of the medical students during this internship, ensuring that the knowledge and techniques taught in the U.S. are accessible to Vietnamese students.

This program not only helps Vietnamese students learn advanced practices but also contributes to improving the quality of global medical education, particularly in developing countries. The program broadens their perspectives and better prepares them for future patient care careers. Through this internship, the medical students gain practical educational experience while also contributing to enhancing medical training and patient care quality worldwide.