Thousands of miles from home, eight nursing students from Nagaoka, Japan, spent a day of learning and cultural exchange at JPS Health Network, where they witnessed how a major teaching hospital prepares the next generation of caregivers and delivers care to a growing community.
The visit went beyond a sightseeing experience. It gave students a chance to compare how healthcare professionals are educated and trained in the United States and Japan, see firsthand the profession they are preparing to enter, and experience Fort Worth through the Fort Worth Sister Cities International program.
During their visit, students met with senior leaders, learned about JPS' role as a teaching hospital and explored several clinical areas, while conversations with various team members provided insight into the clinical training, teamwork and continuous learning that support patient care across the organization.
“I was impressed by how much education and training nurses and other healthcare professionals receive at this hospital and across the United States.”
One student, Kaito Kodama, said one of the biggest takeaways from the visit was seeing the level of education and training required of healthcare professionals at JPS.
“I was impressed by how much education and training nurses and other healthcare professionals receive at this hospital and across the United States,” Kodama said through an interpreter.
That focus on education is central to JPS' role as a teaching hospital, said Shannon Fletcher, Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff and External Affairs, coordinated the event and led a panel discussion.
“One of the things that makes JPS special is the way education, innovation, and patient care come together," Fletcher said. "The students were able to see the training, technology, and teamwork that support patient care every day while exploring what their own future careers could look like.”
The visit was made possible through the efforts of JPS volunteers, the Academic Affairs team, panel speakers, and team members who served as tour guides and shared their time and expertise with the students throughout the day.
Some of the day's highlights included a visit to the operating room, where they got an up-close look at advanced surgical technology and learned how surgical teams work together to care for patients. The students also enjoyed an unexpected visit with Major, one of JPS' therapy dogs, who quickly became a favorite among the group.
Outside the hospital, the students experienced Fort Worth with local host families through the Sister Cities program.
JPS team member Cornelius Smith, Web Application Developer in IT Technical Services, hosted nursing student Kodama during this visit. Smith and his family have hosted several international students over the years, welcoming them into their home and introducing them to local traditions, attractions, and culture.
“We've been taking him around Fort Worth and introducing him to American culture,” Smith said. “Barbecue, the Stockyards, and other local experiences.”
Smith said some of the most memorable parts of hosting come through everyday moments that highlight differences in culture and customs. One moment that left an impression on Smith was how Kodama waited for the entire family to sit down together before beginning a meal, sparking conversations about traditions in both countries.
“It's been a blessing to us and to the students,” Smith said. “We get to learn from each other and see that, even though our cultures may be different, we have a lot in common.”
For the students from Nagaoka, the visit offered a firsthand look at JPS' mission of transforming healthcare delivery for the communities we serve, demonstrating how that commitment to education, innovation, and patient care can inspire future health care professionals well beyond Tarrant County.
