Hangzhou, China

Spring 2027

Description

GHP has established a relationship with Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, approximately two hours southwest of Shanghai. There are six affiliated hospitals that are the main teaching hospitals for the School of Medicine, providing a full range of medical services in almost all the major specialties and subspecialties, in addition to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In the spring of 2027, GHP will be offering a three-week clinical experience to senior medical students at affiliated teaching sites of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine. In most cases, the elective will include two weeks at The Second Affiliated Hospital, a modern 2,000 bed tertiary-care hospital located by the picturesque West Lake in Hangzhou.

Students may spend one week on a specialty service of their choice, participating in rounds and case conferences, and seeing patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Students may also spend one to two weeks on the Traditional Chinese Medicine service, learning about the traditional treatment of common diseases, acupuncture, and Chinese massage. During the last week of the rotation, students are paired with medical students from Zhejiang University to spend time together in a community clinic setting about three hours away from Hangzhou. In this setting, students are exposed to health screening and promotion in primary care, maternal health, and child health clinics.

The rotation in China has been developed with formal goals and objectives. We are seeking students with an interest in learning about different health care systems, about Traditional Chinese Medicine, and about health service delivery in both urban and community settings. Students will be expected to demonstrate the highest level of maturity, professionalism, and cultural humility. Students will be supervised by attending faculty members and will work alongside residents and medical students from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Based on past student experiences, conversational Mandarin is highly desirable for this rotation.

Details

Funding and Housing

Students will receive roundtrip airfare and an additional $300 in financial support for the Hangzhou clinical rotation. The host institution will provide housing recommendations. These funds are intended to help offset expenses such as housing, local transportation, and other travel-related costs. Students should anticipate contributing personal funds, as the total cost of the rotation may exceed the financial support provided by the Global Health Program.

Application and Orientation

Applications for this elective are due Monday, September 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Interviews for this elective will primarily be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Limited interview appointments may also be available on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., and Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Students selected for this rotation must attend a mandatory, full-day pre-departure orientation in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

Rotation Dates and Post-Rotation Requirements

Rotation dates for this elective have been confirmed. Students applying to this three-week elective must be able to commit to the rotation from April 12 through April 30, 2027. Please note that international travel will require departing Los Angeles approximately two days before the official start of the rotation to allow sufficient time for travel and arrival in Hangzhou.

Following the rotation, students will be expected to complete written evaluations, participate in a mandatory full-group debrief on Thursday, June 3, 2027, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., and attend a site-specific debrief, which will be scheduled following their return and prior to graduation.

Questions

Questions regarding this rotation should be directed to Dr. Traci Wells at TWells@mednet.ucla.edu.