What was the difference in teaching and learning between Johns Hopkins and the University of Manchester?

Both universities emphasize student initiatives in learning. Teachers in Johns Hopkins did not provide notes or use PowerPoint in teaching. They expected students to do the pre-reading and raise questions in classes. In the University of Manchester, I asked a professor of the Health Psychology course what was the difference between awareness and consciousness. He suggested me to search the information first, then came back and discussed with him. Teachers in both universities provided learning directions, aroused students’ interests and facilitated initiatives in learning.

What have you gained from the learning at the University of Manchester?

My attitude of learning have been changed. To some extent, I was a spoon-fed student but now I see myself as an adult learner. When I have a question, I will try to search for information and find out the answer before bringing it to a teacher.

The subject “Health Psychology” not simply gave me basic knowledge of psychology, but also provided nursing strategies and solutions for different cases and health care scenarios. For example, I learnt the psychological reasons behind a patient non-compliance in taking medications, and the strategies and actions a nurse can take. I think nurses can provide holistic care only when we have enough understanding on patients’ behaviours and decisions, as well as all-round knowledge.

Your semester exchange included a placement. What have you gained from the placement?

I was on placement in the surgical wards of Manchester Royal Infirmary hospital. I had the opportunity to visit the operation theatre and an anesthesiologist shared with me his role during an operation. I followed IV nurses to home visit some discharged patients and I learnt more about patients’ recovery in the community. In the hospital, I also participated in doctors’ rounds. Generally speaking, nurses in the UK have higher autonomy than nurses in Hong Kong.

In the UK, patients are from different ethnic backgrounds. There was an occasion when I was assisting a doctor to try to perform an abdominal assessment on a female Muslim patient. She refused us and reacted in an aggressive way. A senior nurse told me that a male doctor touching a female patient is regarded as unacceptable in the patient’s culture. Serving the patients in the UK has increased my cultural awareness.

What was the most inspiring experience during the exchange?

My academic advisor in the UK told me that all nursing care should be community-based, and nurses should strive for this dream.

In the home visits, I saw how patients used their tele-devices to monitor their health and provide data (such as glucose level) to the healthcare professionals. The device helped the health care professionals monitor the discharged patients closely, hence reduced patient revisits to clinics/hospitals. It also helped the patients feel empowered as they were taking care of their own health. I hope that in Hong Kong, the dream of my academic advisor can come true step by step, and we can provide better care for discharged patients in the community.

Ms Lui and her classmates in the University of Manchester.

On a placement in the surgical wards.

Ms Lui’s academic advisor brought her to visit Buxton, the home town of the academic advisor.

What courses did you take at Johns Hopkins?

I studied two summer courses: Mind, Brain, Beauty and Techniques in Molecular Biology at Johns Hopkins. The former was about neuro-science and our visual and auditory systems. It examined how the neurons in the brain are transmitted while we are listening to music and explored how music and visual art affect our perception and evoke our emotional responses. The second course provided students hands on laboratory experience, which allowed me to apply the microbiology knowledge I gained from PolyU to conduct experiments. For example, I performed DNA protein extraction and the ELISA, a technique that aims at finding out the source of infection.

Performing experiments in the lab.

What was the difference in teaching and learning between PolyU and Johns Hopkins?

At Johns Hopkins, teachers did not distribute notes or power-point files, and student participation and involvement were encouraged. Compared with PolyU, the classes at Johns Hopkins were more interactive and students actively engaged in classes. Students raised hands and asked questions in the middle of the lecturer, and they were willing to come to the front to discuss their ideas with the teacher.

What was the most inspiring learning experience?

At the end of the “Mind, Brain, Beauty” course, students had to submit a research project proposal. My proposal examined how does music therapy alleviate anxiety and pain of cancer patients. This assignment gave me a unique opportunity to integrate my knowledge to write my own argument and hypothesis, and to propose the experiment. I learn much more about research.

What have you gained from the learning at Johns Hopkins?

The “Mind, Brain, Beauty” course was about the psychological experience of humans. The exploration of visual art, music and perception has given me new insight into the use of artwork as a tool for expressing our emotions and adjusting our mental state. Nursing is about the wellness of patients in both physical and psychological health. I believe that the use of music and artwork are good approaches for caring patients. The conducting the experiments in the “Techniques in Molecular Biology” course has widened my horizon and made me realise that engaging in laboratory work can help resolve global health problems, such as the problem of virus resistance.

A photo with the instructor of the “Mind, Brain & Beauty”, Monica Lopez-Gonzalez, who is a cognitive scientist and multidisciplinary artist.

How did the learning at Johns Hopkins help you for your future career plan?

I have been inspired by a professor at Johns Hopkins, who shared her story about giving up medicine study for neuro-science. Her story made me understand that we can create new knowledge, and contribute to health care and patients’ wellness beyond hospitals. The learning experience at Johns Hopkins has given me a clear direction of the future, and I would like to engage in laboratory or research work.

If there is an opportunity, I will go overseas to study a master’s course in infection control or a research-related master degree. I hope that in the future, I can apply new biotechnology knowledge in caring of patients and enhance their wellbeing.

Visited the Inner Harbor during the weekend.

Sharing by the student leaders

“Thing that is easily accessible in Hong Kong is not always granted in South Sudan, particularly the medical facilities and healthcare professionals. With the creativity and determination of Dr Chan and her team members, they overcame the seemingly insurmountable challenges in South Sudan, including the lack of anesthetic drugs for delivery and infection control before performing operation for a infectiouspatient, etc. I realised that creativity and flexibility are important in managing medical challenges.The most impressive part of the sharing was about the empowerment of the local young doctors by Dr Chan. The local people did not just passively receive the service, they also learnt from the service. I think the ultimate goal of the service is to equip the local people with knowledge and skills and it is the key for a community to change and sustain a change.”

Tang Wing Yee (53455-4)

“Medical professionals always need to uphold the principle of equity and treat patients regardless of their background, religious belief, races and standpoint. Dr Chan from the MSF shared some insights on this point. All people coming into their hospitals will be treated, even they are on the enemy side. She also shared with us how to treat patients with limited resources, perform surgery under limited electricity and her determination to treat a baby with an absence of anus. Their selfless dedication has inspired me to be a medical professional with head and heart. Working in a harsh environment is not easy and I sincerely appreciate their dedication to humanitarian work. Being a worker for humanitarian service is my dream too as I always believe that we live on the same globe and we have the obligation to help those in need. The sharing by Dr Chan has empowered me to work hard andfulfill my dream in the future.”

Leung Sin Tung (53455-5)

“I attended a talk about the sharing of working experiences as an engineer and a doctor in Afghanistan and South Sudan respectively. It gave me some insight into the outside world and an opportunity to reflect myself. The talk was useful and informative. The engineer haslimitedmedical based knowledge, but still contributed a lot by providing the best environment for the medical team and the patients. This has inspired me that even though I am studying a medical-related programme, which is not widely applicable in underdeveloped countries, there must be a chance for me to serve those communities in need in the future. In addition to the difficulties described by the doctor in South Sudan, I learnt more about the main differences of working settings between Hong Kong and the developing countries. I hope that in the later stage of my life, I can integrate this learning with my own experience in services in Cambodia and put further effort in the communities.”

Chan Cheuk Him (55403-4)