Three continents, one goal: Shaping the Medicine of the Future Together

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An exchange involving three countries across three continents is rare, as most medical student exchange programmes are bilateral. This year, the project A Trilateral Alliance for Medical Education, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the DAAD SDG Partnerships Programme, marked a milestone with its first in-person trilateral student exchange. Medical students from the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB), Jimma University (Ethiopia) and LMU Munich came together for a unique cultural and professional exchange, with visits in each of the three participating countries.

During their stay, the students compared health systems and teaching approaches, sharing insights from their respective home countries and learning from each other's experiences. While in Munich, LMU University Hospital familiarised the visiting students with clinical teaching and care in paediatrics and palliative care. They also took part in interdisciplinary, innovative extracurricular activities offered by the LMU Faculty of Medicine.

One participant described the experience as “one of the most meaningful experiences of my medical studies.” Another saw it as an opportunity “to learn, to discover, to make friendships” and to reflect on their future as a physician. Overall, the exchange reinforced an important lesson: “Medicine is not limited to textbooks or hospitals. A patient’s culture, family, community, education, environment, and circumstances all form part of their health.”

The exchange builds on years of sustained international cooperation. Together with LMU University Hospital, the Center for International Health (CIH LMU) maintains partnerships with institutions across Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as an alumni network spanning more than 25 countries. These long-standing relationships foster mutual learning and contribute to shaping the future of medical education and healthcare worldwide.

More about the SDG Partnership project at the CIHᴸᴹᵁ: A Trilateral Alliance for Medical Education – SDG Partnership Programme | Center for International Health (CIHᴸᴹᵁ)