Today, we spent our first full day in Bilbao. We began the day with a nice breakfast at the hotel. Then, we met our program director, Saioa, who helped us navigate the train system to our first stop: Basurto Hospital. Upon our arrival at the government building, we were welcomed by a large number of staff members. We listened to four speakers who provided insights into the Spanish healthcare system, particularly in the Basque Country. Nurses at the hospital shared their experiences and discussed what their daily routines look like in a different healthcare system. We also celebrated National Nursing Day during our visit. Additionally, we gained valuable insight from a biomedical engineer about the intersection of innovation, technology, and healthcare.

Afterward, we visited the Biobizkaia Health Research Institute. There, we split into two groups. One explored 3D printing, and the other, including myself, experienced virtual reality. Our group was taken to a specialized room with cameras and VR technology. The team showed how they use virtual reality in a biomedical context to create health simulators that help medical professionals practice patient care in a realistic, hands-on way. We had the opportunity to hear from the programmer, artist, and project manager, who shared insights into the complex process of designing these programs. They discussed the challenges they faced and the time it takes to develop such this technology. Later, we regrouped and visited the rehabilitation center, where two additional speakers shared their perspectives on the differences between the U.S. and Spanish healthcare systems. Hearing from professionals actively working in these environments made the discussion incredibly insightful and eye-opening.

We also heard more from Spain about her role and the future plans for the rest of our time in Bilbao!

Throughout the day, we traveled by train, which was very pleasant. Compared to Pittsburgh, the system here is much simpler, as it only consists of two main tracks. We returned to the hotel feeling quite tired, but I believe that by tomorrow, we will be more adjusted to the time difference. After resting for a while, some of the other students and I took a walk to explore the city of Bilbao a bit more. I am really excited for the days ahead.