Activity Report of Open Application Course vol.20
Chinese dental students were invited on a short-term basis to learn about Japanese dental research, education and industry.
Report of Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry
Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry invited, on a short-term basis, 10 students from the Department of General Dentistry of Peking University, West China School of Stomatology of Sichuan University, the Faculty of Stomatology of Tianjin Medical University, and the School and Hospital of Stomatology of Fujian Medical University, to learn about Japanese dental research, education and industry, starting October 11, 2018.
During the eight day training, the invited students received training in various subjects, including intensive lectures on basic research, clinical application, education and practical application of regenerative medicine in dentistry which Tohoku University has been working on, other intensive lectures on disaster dentistry where they lead the industy in research, education and on-site experience, etc., on-site training in disaster areas, clinical skills training, hands-on seminars on dental materials and equipment, etc. They also visited the Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry and the hospital, and struck up an acquaintance with Japanese students.
In the intensive lecture course in dentistry on the first day, the participants were able to glance at the latest research and approaches to dentistry regenerative medicine which is the speciality of Tohoku University. In addition, they also attended intensive lectures on disaster dentistry which Tohoku University has been strongly promoting since the experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake. They learned about the conditions at the time of the major earthquake/tsunami, about dental care activities, and about the role to be played by dental research in reconstruction in such a major disaster. They took a look at the research environment and how a hospital is managed.
On Saturday, they visited Minami-Sanriku Cho in Miyagi Prefecture which has suffered from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Dr. Seiji Saito, the Director of the Dental Dept. of Shuzugawa Minami-Sanriku Cho Hospital, explained the situation at the time of the disaster and the long period of reconstruction and dental care activities at the disaster sites, and how dental care should be performed in reconstruction from disaster, etc. As the participants toured the disaster site, he talked about how people worked to recover from the disaster and what should be done when we are facing a disaster.
After the visit, they went to Tokyo and stopped by GC, the largest dental materials and equipment manufacturer in Japan. At their laboratory, they gave a briefing about their research and development of dental materials. The participants seemed to be impressed by their research environment in the laboratory as well as passionate activities for the development of dental materials. They also visited the headquarters of GC, and received a briefing about the latest dental materials and equipment, and the status quo of its sales. They participated in a hands-on seminar to learn how to use dental materials and equipment using the latest dental materials and diagnostic appliances.
On the last day, the participants received clinical skills training using the patient robot simulation system for dental education for the first time in the world, developed by Japan. It was a valuable opportunity for the participants to experience Japan’s cutting-edge robot technologies and to learn about Japan’s advanced approaches to dental education. After that, the participants made presentations on what they had learned in the 8 day program. They exchanged ideas and shared what they had experienced with Japanese students and other international students.
In the interactive gatherings, they actively participated in information exchange with Japanese students, which this program was most focused on, and exchanged ideas with Japanese students and faculty members. They had an opportunity to study with Japanese students in the training at the actual disaster site, and participated in gatherings with other international students in Japan and other Japanese students of the international exchange circles. These activities have contributed greatly to the early establishment of an international dental network in the Asian region.
We deeply appreciate the SAKURA Exchange Program in Science which gave us an opportunity to have such excellent interaction.