Our Philosophy
The name MedoPolo derives from the historical figure of Marco Polo. He was a famous Venetian trader and explorer. Marco Polo lived from 1254 until 1324. He introduced Central Asia and China to medieval Europeans through his travel accounts, “Il Milione.”
His book has inspired the naming of our educational project. The book describes a 24-year journey along the Silk Road from 1271 to 1295. As an early traveler to Asia, he left a comprehensive chronicle of the eastern world. His manuscript inspired later explorers like Christopher Columbus. It also influenced European cartography during the Middle Ages and laid the foundation for future global exploration.
Following Marco Polo’s legacy, our team promotes the global exchange of medical knowledge and culture. We founded the first international medical exchange program within the Shanghai East Hospital Education Office in 2010. Today, we connect medical professionals and students worldwide.
Our programs operate completely independently of rigid university affiliations. Traditional university links often limit student mobility in international medical education. Beyond teaching pure medicine, we immerse international students in the local lifestyle. This focus promotes mutual understanding and intercultural teamwork.
Our Mission
We believe that personal international contact forms the foundation for future cross-border medical collaboration. Global connections remain a vital necessity in our increasingly interconnected world. To date, our programs count more than 1500 alumni. These students gained a deep understanding of clinical practices abroad. To a significant extent, many alumni maintain active contact with their international host mentors.
MedoPolo: About Us – What We Do
We specialize in organizing, consulting, and sustaining international clinical rotations for global medical students. Our team emphasizes uniform teaching quality and reliable hospital infrastructure across all destinations. Furthermore, we constantly strengthen the existing ties within our medical network. We actively seek new, affordable partner programs in regions that remain difficult for international students to access.
Many commercial agencies limit themselves to simple placement mediation to generate profits. In contrast, our core philosophy focuses on building, monitoring, and shaping clinical curricula directly. We maintain all programs on a self-funding basis with a student-friendly pricing structure.
We believe financial wealth should not dictate your ability to complete a clinical rotation abroad. Instead, the opportunity should depend on a strong desire to experience foreign cultures and gain medical insights. We keep these pathways open to every highly motivated medical student.
MedoPolo: About Us – Our Team
The global Med’oPolo team operates entirely on a non-profit basis. We actively pass our enthusiasm for international medical education to local hospital staffs. Our administration identifies exceptional clinical tutors at our partner sites. We select mentors with strong language proficiency and high motivation. These doctors eagerly share their clinical knowledge with international visitors. Additionally, we pair visiting students with local medical peers to create a mutually beneficial environment.
“I have not told half of what I’ve seen, because no one would have believed me.”
— Marco Polo, Venetian Merchant & Explorer (1254–1324)
The Team Behind MedoPolo Programs
Team Botucatu
Team Shanghai
Team Shanghai