Today focused on learning more about the healthcare system in Spain while also seeing some of the engineering and technical systems involved in hospital operations.

The day began with a visit to Osakidetza University Hospitle, where we had a brief presentation introducing the Spanish healthcare system. Much of the information connected to topics we had already learned during previous hospital visits, especially how healthcare is publicly funded and accessible to everyone.

After the presentation, we toured different pavilions throughout the hospital. This visit focused on both the engineering side of the facility and the patient care areas. We saw different medical devices, including ultrasound equipment, and learned more about how the technology is used within the hospital. We also got to see some of the infrastructure behind the scenes, including the systems used to heat water and the emergency backup generators used during power outages. It was interesting seeing how much equipment and planning is required to keep a hospital functioning. As an engineer, this visit really interested me.

After the hospital visit, we got lunch before visiting the school’s Formula 1 racing club. We were able to see students working on the car and observe part of the engineering and design process firsthand.

Later in the day, we visited the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and explored several of the exhibits throughout the museum. The architecture of the building itself stood out just as much as the exhibits inside.

Overall, the day connected healthcare, engineering, and design through a variety of different experiences across Bilbao.