WSU hosts Chinese medical faculty

Weber State University partnered with Xi'an Medical School in Northwest China to form the first respiratory therapy program. Lisa Trujillo, the director of clinical education, visited China in October of 2004. When there was a need for assistance, she realized there was no one to pair up with who specialized in respiratory therapy in Northwest China.

Another trip was soon planned for Trujillo to revisit China in order to present a six-day seminar. Janelle Gardiner, a respiratory therapy instructor at WSU, accompanied her on the trip. Together they would deliver the seminar. It was well received in China and soon an agreement was made between the University of Xi'an and WSU to plan for the training of Chinese faculty to receive instruction in Utah at WSU.

"It's exciting," Gardiner said. "I didn't realize in the beginning that it would become so big. WSU is pioneering the first respiratory therapy program in Northwest China."

A team was put together consisting of Zhou Xiao Lan, a certified midwife, Xue Ying Li, the English speaking major in the group, and Li Ping, specializing in pharmacology. With this team, WSU plans to provide opportunities for the Chinese representatives to observe how to perform lab work, instruct students and run the respiratory therapy program when they arrive back in China on Christmas Day of this year. The team will read student textbooks and shadow students as they perform their work at school. In the next three weeks, they will go to the hospital and observe how the equipment is used.

"We are learning something new everyday," Xue Ying Li said. "Every night we preview the chapter that will be discussed the next day so that we are prepared for class."

The Chinese program is very different than WSU. Teachers give lectures and have very minimal student participation, whereas students here are encouraged to read ahead in order to be prepared.

"We want to know the teaching methods and techniques," Li Ping said. "Everyone we have met is very nice and we can't wait to see the hospital."

After the fall semester, the Chinese faculty members will return to China and set up a course to instruct the students on the art of respiratory therapy. This will make it possible for students to learn not how to use the equipment, but how to perform the techniques and methods implemented in the United States.

WSU will return to China in July of 2009. Gardiner said she felt this would be very nice because they were rushed to teach the seminar last time and couldn't spend much time learning about Chinese culture.

Now, like all WSU students, the Chinese representatives are starting their fourth week at WSU.

"After the first week it became a little easier," Xue Ying Li said, "We are having a good time." With much effort and time, WSU and Xi'an University are doing their part to continue medical advancement in Northwest China and will provide help to many Chinese citizens who could use respiratory therapy.