Division of General Practice at a University Hospital, Not a Fish out of Water: Unique Approaches at Shimane University

Societal needs for general physicians are increasing, and medical universities are responsible for meeting such demands by providing opportunities for medical students and clinical residents to experience the clinical practice of generalists, so that they become more aware of what it involves and might be inclined to become generalists in future. Our department runs a satellite campus at Oda City Hospital, called ‘Oda Training Center of General Practice’, where young trainees can experience general practice under the supervision of attending physicians. In addition, we are involved in several initiatives at Shimane University hospital, including collaboration with the Emergency Medical Center (EMC) and revamping of our clinical clerkship program, such as involving medical students in morning bedsiderounds, effective communication using a business chat-tool, and a joint conference with the EMC. We believe that these initiatives at Shimane University will contribute to fostering more general physicians in the years to come.