Shadowing in the Pathology Department at Kyunghee University Hospital

Author: Jason Hoang | Major: Biochemistry | Semester: Fall 2022

I chose this program because I had wanted to study abroad in Asia and South Korea happened to be one of the very few countries open for study abroad at the time. It was perfect however because I had always been interested in Korean culture and language. In addition, the program also had the classes I wanted. This program allowed me the opportunity to shadow physicians in another country. This provided me with another perspective on healthcare outside of the United States. My courses at Korea University were similar to those U of A with a few differences. Classes at Korea University mostly emphasized midterm and final exam grades and had minimal homework. I think it was beneficial as this gave students a lot more free time and less stress due to the lack of constant deadlines. The other major difference at Korea University was that Friday classes were uncommon and did not follow the same block schedule as U of A. Classes were usually only twice a week and so that gave students a 3-day weekend, further reducing stress. All the courses I took were in English and my professors were all proficient in English because most of them studied in the United States. One thing I noticed was that office hours were not really a thing and encouraged like at U of A.

During my semester in Seoul, I was able to practice my Korean constantly in my everyday interactions, in conjunction with my intensive Korean class. I was also taking my Chinese language course online through U of A and was able to practice my Chinese with the numerous Chinese-Korean restaurant owners and Chinese-speaking international students. Consequently, my language skills and confidence to engage and practice with others have greatly improved.

As I shadowed multiple pathologists at a university hospital, I was able to learn about the differences between Korean healthcare and the field of pathology itself. This was one of my most memorable experiences because pathology was a field I was very interested in and it gave me a lot of insight into whether it would be a career I would consider in my future. One of the most notable differences between the Korean and American healthcare system was that prices for procedures and healthcare services were much cheaper than in the U.S. and that citizens would later apply and be reimbursed by the government instead of the insurance covering a certain amount up front.

One of the biggest culture shocks in South Korea was actually the differences in cups and napkins. Both cups and napkins were very small and I was not used to it at first as someone who is used to large cups and napkins in the U.S. Another large difference was the lack of tipping culture and tax being pre-included in everything, so what you saw was the price you paid.  The great thing about being in South Korea is how convenient everything is, with convenience stores everywhere and public transportation being extremely clean, cheap, and reliable. One other benefit is the relatively low cost of traveling to other nearby countries such as Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan. As a result, I was able to take advantage of it and travel to Japan for a week.

The advice I would give to other students interested in studying abroad is to apply for every grant that they are eligible for! That way it is possible to travel abroad without financial worry. Also, another thing is to assess whether you are in a good position to study abroad because a lot of times it can seem like studying abroad is romanticized and it is all fun. However, I have found myself and many others struggling with mental health during a point abroad. Many things that you may not consider can make studying abroad very stressful such as medical school applications, grades, finances, long-distance relationships, and even grief. That being said I would highly recommend the TEAN program I attended as the staff were extremely helpful and made the process of arriving and settling in as smooth as possible, in addition to prioritizing our safety. One I had wish I known beforehand was to study the language before coming because it can be stressful and frustrating not being able to communicate or read when first arriving to a completely different country. However, it was not a huge deal and most of the things I wish I had known beforehand would only be known and made possible by experiencing it firsthand. The first thing I’m going to do when I go back home is to eat a home cook meal made by my mom because I was not able to find any good Vietnamese food in Seoul!