Mariano Marcos
State University

6 MMSU PT students join clinical exchange program in Japan

By Criztalene Victorio

Six Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (BS PT) students of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) participated in a clinical student exchange program at Seirei Christopher University (SCU) in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, Japan, from October 14 to 31.

The participants include Evanswinda Agustin, Ryza Jewel Apostol, Jeremy Mc Grant Bumanglag, Hanalyn Cajimat, Reizo Miranda, and Meldryk Miguel Parangan. They were accompanied by Prof. Mary Audrey Viloria, chief of the University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center (UPTRC), and Prof. Chariss Macalma, a PT faculty member.

The exchange program is part of the international partnership between the MMSU and SCU aimed to enhance the students’ clinical knowledge and practical skills by exposing them to Japan’s rehabilitation practices, healthcare system, and patient care approaches.

During their stay, the students visited various hospitals and rehabilitation facilities in Japan, including Morimachi Public Hospital, Sakai Neurologic Hospital, Muku Pediatric Center, Terada Pain Clinic, Nishiyama Hospital, and Hamamatsu City Rehabilitation Hospital to further learn from healthcare professionals and gain insights from their clinical environment.

In her message, Prof. Viloria shared the value of the exchange program in exposing PT students to actual clinical practice beneficial for the real world of profession.

“Such student exchange programs give our physical therapy interns international clinical exposure, allowing them to learn different PT practices while strengthening their clinical skills,” Viloria said.

Meanwhile, Bumanglag, one of the MMSU student delegates, shared how the program allowed him to gain deeper understanding in PT that he can apply in the Philippines.

“More than gaining knowledge and experience, I hope to bring home what I have learned and use it to provide better, more compassionate care to our patients in the Philippines,” he expressed.

To recall, this marks the third batch of MMSU PT students to participate in clinical immersion in Japan following the first batch in 2024 and second batch in 2025 since MMSU and SCU sealed their partnership in 2021.