Today was my favorite experience of the trip so far. As soon as we arrived at San Juan, I knew it was going to be beautiful, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the views awaiting us. The hike was very long and tiring, but it was so rewarding to be out over the water. Truly,…
Category: School of Nursing
Goodbye Birmingham, Hello London!
Today was our final morning in Birmingham, and it was packed with lectures and a bittersweet goodbye to our amazing BCU faculty host, Ana. We began our day at BCU with a lecture focused on the link between smoking and cardiovascular disease. I had known cardiovascular disease was a major problem, but hearing the actually…
From Crisis to Comfort
We finished our final day of exploring Argentina’s healthcare system with eye-opening tours of one public and one private hospital. We met with medical leaders and gathered information to finish our presentations on Argentina’s entire healthcare system. To begin the day, we went to Austral University to meet with Dr. Josefina Medrano who was…
Day 9 in Gernika
This morning marked a big transition as we checked out of our hotel in Bilbao to make room for the crowds arriving for the Europa League Final. After loading up the bus, we took a scenic drive through the Basque countryside to visit Tekniker, a high-tech research center nestled in the mountains. The views were…
Hospital Hopping and Health Gaps
Today was our final hospital visit. We are on day 10 of our trip and I cant believe how fast its gone by. We started the day heading to Austral and meeting with Dr. Josefina Medrano, the former minister of health in the Salta Province. She talked about the environment of Salta and the challenges…
Day 10: Final Talks and Tours
Last day of hospital visits! We started the day off with a presentation from Dr. Medrano, the former Minister of Health for the province of Salta. Her presentation covered the challenges that arose from the COVID pandemic during her term and how the province faced geographic difficulties. We then made our way to Fernández Public…
Day 10 in Buenos Aires!
Today we started our day off by walking over to Austral for a presentation led by Dr. Josefina Medrano, a former minister of Salta Province. Salta is one of the poorest provinces in Argentina. Dr. Medrano provided an overview of it and how the pandemic affected healthcare within the area. She talked about the complexities…
Our Final Hospitals
We had an early start to our tenth day in Argentina and walked back over to the Austral building to listen to a presentation by Dr. Medrano. She discussed with us how the province of Salta was affected and what actions were taken during COVID. It was interesting to hear about how countries other than…
Salta’s Mountains to Buenos Aires’ Hospitals
Day 10 in Buenos Aires! Today we had a meeting with Dr. Josefina Medrano, who was the former minister of health in the province of Salta during Covid-19. She was the first female minister of health in Salta. During this meeting at Austral, we learned about the healthcare system in more rural areas outside of…
Birmingham Day 10!
Today was our last full day in Birmingham! Although I have enjoyed my time here in the city, I am excited to explore London. Today was an easy day. Our start time got delayed until 8:45, so I got extra time to eat breakfast and prepare for the day. Today we went to visit the…
Last hospital visits
Today marks our last day of hospital visits!! I can’t believe our trip is so close to being over. It has been so much fun and has gone by so fast. To start off the day, we went to the University of Austral for a lecture from Dr. Medrano about the Ministry of Health. She…
Day 10: NHS Mental Health Trust Visit!
Today was our last full day in Birmingham! It’s crazy to think we’re almost done with our trip; it has all flown by like the blink of an eye. We had the opportunity to visit Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust! It was nice to get a closer look at what mental health nurses…
Birmingham Day 10: Bridging the Mental Health Gap
Today was our last full day in Birmingham, and it ended up being one of the most meaningful. We began the morning at the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and spent the afternoon touring the Juniper Centre at Moseley Hall Hospital. Both visits gave me a new appreciation for mental health care…
Mental Health Trust and Hospital in Birmingham – Day 10
We had an exciting day today which started with 10 extra minutes to relax in the morning due to the late Birmingham buses which has been the norm this trip. We took two different buses with the help of the lovely Ana to the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust. We got to hear presentations…
Beyond Bilbao: Day 1 in Gernika
We had a super early morning today as we had to check out of our hotel, but I was still able to eat the hotel breakfast before leaving to go to Tekniker. When we first arrived there, there were mountains in the distance and it was a nice change of scenery. At Tekniker, we listened…
Smiles, Stories, and Support
Today we had the opportunity to visit the Juniper Centre at Moseley Hall Hospital, which is part of the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. It was a meaningful visit, and it left us thinking about how important thoughtful, person-centered mental health care really is. From the moment we arrived, the centre felt…
We’re on the Move! – 5/20/15
Our day began bright and early, with my first alarm going off at 6:00 a.m. and breakfast served at 7:00. The reason for the early start? We were leaving Bilbao and heading to the historic town of Gernika! After packing up and checking out of our hotel, our first stop on the way was a…
Argentinian Health Inequity Compared to the US
As I discussed in my blog post yesterday, there is a large gap between Argentina’s public and private systems. From facility quality to technology to salary, the resources are starkly different. While America is no stranger to health inequity, it looks very different. In Argentina, healthcare is regarded as a human right, and its constitution…
Comfort for Some, Crowding for Other
We started with breakfast at the hotel and then met with Dr. Florencia Ledesma to learn about ASE, one of the Obras Sociales and Medlife, a private insurance company and to compare them. ASE has faced many changes recently with Milei’s new policies. There we talked. We then had a quick lunch, and then drove…
Beyond the Books
Today was a super exciting part of our visit here to Brimingham as we were actually able to visit one of their healthcare facilities.. We had the opportunity to go to the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and learn firsthand about the realities of working in mental health care in the UK….