Ling Jing is a final-year medical student from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, who has been undergoing a one-month internship as part of a short-term course at the International Higher School of Medicine (IHSM) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan . The program was supervised by Dr. Hussain Syed Azfar, a highly experienced physician of the IHSM at the Center for Family Medicine Clinic №7.

The IHSM offers short-term courses in medicine specifically designed for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students from developed countries to gain experience in medicine in developing countries. The program is conducted in the IHSM clinical departments, primarily located at the IHSM Medical Clinic “VEDANTA” and other state medical settings.

During the short-term course, Ling Jing was immersed in the environment of a medical organization that provides medical services to a wide range of the population in Kyrgyzstan. She gained practical experience and exposure to a diverse patient population.

Overall, Ling Jing found the short-term course at IHSM to be a valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth. She was impressed by the dedication and resourcefulness of the medical staff in delivering quality care to patients. Ling Jing also appreciated the chance to learn from experienced physicians and interact with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Bellow is her feedback on an short-term course :

My name is Ling Jing, and I am a final-year medical student from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. I am here in Bishkek for one month completing an elective with the International Higher School of Medicine. I am working with Dr. Hossain Syed Azfar, who is a cardiologist and doctor of functional diagnostics, at the Center for Family Medicine Clinic No. 7. This clinic serves a population of 80,000 people.

We are here from 8 am to 3 pm on weekdays and see anywhere between 30 to 45 patients every day with our team of three. We keep paper records of all patient encounters, including their histories, treatments, and diagnostics. I have been learning all about running and interpreting electrocardiograms, performing the cardiac physical exam, and managing patients with cardiovascular issues such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cardiac arrhythmias in the outpatient setting. We have also visited patients with mobility limitations in their homes to perform ECGs and to manage their conditions. I have had a really valuable experience enhancing my theoretical and practical understanding of cardiology at this clinic through encounters with patients with cardiovascular diseases and through conducting and reading ECGs. Dr. Syed and assistant Аigul have been giving me extensive one-on-one teaching everyday through discussing notable patient cases and providing me many opportunities to practice my physical exam skills. It has been fascinating getting to experience a different healthcare setting in Kyrgyzstan and learning more about medicine around the world, and I’ve had a wonderful experience living in Bishkek.