It’s crazy to think over a year ago I toured the Pitt campus during my senior year of high school. I can remember that prospective, eager student in complete fascination like it was yesterday. Today, I got to experience that feeling once more. On this Thursday, we traveled outside of Buenos Aires city and entered its suburbs to visit the public university called Universidad de la Matanza and its partner hospital, Paroissien Hospital. Being outside of the city is a different environment with wider separation between businesses, more homes rather than apartments, and a little less clean. Yet, this campus brightened the area up and so did its people.
Our first stop was to the hospital. Paroissien is another public hospital just like Hospital Fernandez but is thought of as a small downgrade in comparison. This was not my opinion whatsoever. Yes, surface-level-wise, it was, compact, somewhat torn (if you will), and less crowded. However, never judge a book by its cover. Dean of the health department named Dra. Fabiana Lartigue introduced us at the entrance then went on to explore the NICU area, ER, peak into delivery, and HPV lab testing as well. While there, we even saw two cats relaxing in the hospital halls! Turns out, these two were the pets of a couple of patients that were admitted into the facility… makes me wish we had the same at home! There were even a couple of hallways that had small tables with incense, Himalayan salt lamps, and small plants for decor. It smelled and felt so homey. We got to hear from a couple of other female doctors and nurses too, and I then realized how heavily influenced this hospital is by feminity. In all honesty, I would choose Paroissien Hospital over Santorio and Fernandez any day and I believe the dynamic of women leading is why.
After Paroissien, we headed to Universidad Matanza and began our tour guided by Professor Frederic Scremin. This campus is beyond different from Pitt. For one, the education students receive is 100% free, funded through taxes just like public hospitals. Anybody from the nation of Argentina can go there for studies. This process very much disregards gender, income, sexuality, religion, and anything else that’s not your Argentine citizenship. Also, instead of admitting through items such as statements of purpose and standardized testing, students take one exam solely to see where they place and even began their professional degrees/ courses during their first year of schooling. Unlike America, there is no undergraduate versus graduate school system, only levels of study provided under one university. An education and healthcare system like these brings up the aspect of equity versus equality. Equity in this case would be each patient (student) receiving different levels of care (education) to obtain ultimately the same goal. However, this is not the reality here. As we know now, what you can afford is what you receive. Public facilities are best for those of lower-incomed backgrounds while private facilities are a luxury provided to those who can afford the premium/tuition. The reality here is though, someone who needs intensive, higher-end care provided by the private sector but cannot afford to simply may never receive their needs. Equality here would be as if the government distributed funds equally to all folks of all shapes, colors, and sizes. This brings up the question would this be effectively efficient or best to be equal? Unfortunately, Argentina is still on the balance beam with this subject.
Also while on campus, we got to see the nursing simulation and even practice CPR ourselves! The students helping were muy lindo. After a quick lunch on campus, we were able to mingle with the nursing students as well. This gave me the chance to not only hear their educational experience but practice my Spanish too! Everyone was caring and kind with open ears and hearts. No other visit has touched my heart as much as Matanza and Paroissien have today. I am of course very excited to see what the private university is like but for now, you stole mi corazon Matanza!
