The Regional Medical Seminar in Gero
On Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9, 2025, the 'Regional Medical Seminar in Gero' was hosted by the Gero City Government and the Gero City Medical Association. Eighteen medical students from Gifu University, ranging from first to fourth year, participated in the seminar. The purpose of this seminar is to learn about regional healthcare, observe actual medical scenes, and gain a deeper understanding of the current state of regional healthcare through interactions with practicing physicians.
On the morning of the first day, there was an explanation of the medical situation in Gero City, Gifu Prefecture. Following this, Professor USHIKOSHI Hiroaki, Director of the Center for Regional Medical affiliated with Gifu University's School of Medicine, gave a lecture on the theme 'The Future of Regional Healthcare.' In his lecture, he detailed the importance and prospects of regional healthcare, including the introduction of a new curriculum and the development of medical professionals with an eye on 2040, as proposed by the Japanese government. In the afternoon, participants moved to Gifu Prefectural Gero Hospital for a tour of the hospital and discussions with doctors. Afterwards, they moved to their accommodation, where a social gathering was held at 'Hidagawa Onsen Shimizu no Yu.' The gathering was attended by Gero City Mayor YAMAUCHI Noboru, Chairman KOBAYASHI Motohiro of the Gero City Medical Association, and other members of the association, allowing participating students to hear valuable insights from senior doctors.
On the morning of the second day, participants visited Gero City Osako Clinic, and in the afternoon, they visited Gero City Kanayama Hospital. During these visits, participants toured the facilities and held exchange meetings with local doctors. In these meetings, participants learned about the challenges doctors face in regional healthcare and how they address these challenges daily.
After the seminar, one of the students commented, 'We gained a clear understanding of the differences in medical conditions within Gifu Prefecture by directly hearing from local doctors and administrative staff.' This seminar provided the participants with a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of regional healthcare.
Gifu University will continue to offer practical learning opportunities with the cooperation of those involved in regional healthcare, supporting the growth of GU students.
