Manchester is one of only two UK universities to be a member of the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN), this means our students can take part in the USRN’s programme of international events. Last summer, medical student Clarissa Hemmingson, took the opportunity to attend the USRN Sichuan University Summer Programme 2019 in Chengdu, China.

The two-week programme focussed on health promotion for rural families and children, and was held at the West China School of Medicine at Sichuan University. Eight international and 14 Chinese students took part and over the course of the two weeks, through lectures, workshops and field visits, the programme explored medicine in China, medicine in rural communities and public and global health. The programme also allowed students to engage in social responsibility through the provision of healthcare for all, linking with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3.

Clarissa found the cultural and professional differences between medicine in the UK and China countries very interesting. For example, due to the size of the country, a significant amount of healthcare in China is delivered by ‘telemedicine’. This is where doctors will consult over the phone or via video chat with other healthcare professionals to allow larger centres to reach out and share their expertise with smaller local hospitals in rural areas. This is just one example of how medicine in China is often considered to be at the forefront of technology-driven medicine.

With visits to local villages and recovering natural disaster sites, Clarissa found the programme to be eye-opening with regards to public health delivery. Although medicine and hospitals in China may have different approaches to those in the UK, the goals are very much the same. Clarissa felt a real appreciation for being able to be involved in the programme, allowing her to explore other cultures and how they apply research and medical advances. Learning about public health in an international setting meant all the students could come together and share their own experiences of medicine and health, creating a truly global experience.

The programme allowed Clarissa to develop her knowledge and understanding of medicine in a number of ways, particularly in improving access to healthcare for those with limited resources. Other students on the programme came from a range of academic backgrounds including biological sciences, humanities and physical sciences.

Students left Chengdu with an improved awareness of rural health and social responsibility, keen to maintain their new friendships and connections and to apply their experiences across a broad range of subject areas when they got home.