Tùng T.P.^1,2, Linh P.B.¹, Van der Ploeg, I.^3,4, Huong T.T.N.^2,5

¹FSH group, Dinh Tien Hoang Institute of Medicine, Hanoi, Vietnam;

²Department of Physiology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam

³Faculty Office, University Administration, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;

⁴Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;

⁵Dinh Tien Hoang Institute of Medicine, Hanoi, Vietnam;

Background: For over 10 years, the exchange programs between Hanoi Medical University, University of Sydney, and Karolinska Institutet have marked an extraordinary turning point in the career and life of many medical students. However, we will introduce a model which empowers the impacts of these programs not only limited to the direct participants but also spread to many other medical students.

Method: A group of former exchange students, who are also members of Friendship and Science for Health (FSH), decided to launch an educational initiative for building up a network of enthusiastic medical educators to share knowledge, expertise in clinical practice and medical research with other students.

Results: Several medical workshops and seminars, an online education channel, and a research project on clinical learning were launched by these former exchange students. They also shared their experiences and assisted many others in fulfilling their dream of studying abroad.

Conclusions: A well-conducted effort into enhancing the network of former exchange students could extend the accomplishment of the exchange programs beyond their boundaries.