We began our day with a short walk to Austral University, where we had the opportunity to meet with the former Minister of Health for the province of Salta during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was fascinating to hear about the problem-solving strategies she and her team developed during such a high-pressure crisis. Afterward, we bussed…
Tag: Lauren Novack
Some Perspective on Privilege
Started off the day with a visit and lecture from Dr. Florencia Ledesma, a family physician and director of ASE Connecta. ASE has been a key organization in managing healthcare services for workers by acting as an intermediary for healthcare contributions. We learned about the history of ASE and how it has evolved over the…
Walking in the Footsteps of Perón
Woke up a little earlier today to head back to La Boca to look around some more. I was really able to take in the culture of the city and appreciate some of the handmade leather pieces that they are popular for. As I walked around the streets it was so beautiful to hear the…
Exploring Evita Perón
A change of pace from our usual go go go, was a nice break today. We first met with Dr. Gabriel Novick, a director for the largest private healthcare providers called Swiss Medical, who graciously took the time out of his Saturday morning to thoroughly go over the Argentina healthcare system from top to bottom….
Obstacles of Obras Sociales
Today we had the honor of meeting Dr. Daniel Ferrante, the current Deputy Minister of Health of CABA. He enlightened us on the history of their health department. This educational conversation set the tone for the rest of the day as he elaborated on the complexities of their healthcare system and how there is much…
From San Isidro to Paroissien
I had the most fun today, learning one of Argentina’s most traditional dances, the tango. This morning, we had a tango lesson and were taught some of the basic steps to a very complex but beautiful dance. I thought this was not only entertaining but valuable for us to experience a part of the country’s…
Spray Cans and Street Stories
Today, we spent the day exploring the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. We started off on a bus tour, hearing about the history of the buildings and natural landmarks around the city. Then we walked around La Boca and explored the colorful buildings along with the deep rooted immigrant history and working-class roots behind it. Our…
Boats, Beds, and Budget Cuts
To start off day 3, we took a boat ride to Tigre to talk with staff members and learn about the primary care hospital on the Island. We spoke with one of the captains who drives the ambulance boat there, about the responsibilities and challenges that comes with working at a hospital that is the…
Empanadas and Economics
Day 2 in Argentina and today we visited the University of Austral, where we learned about Argentina’s nursing system and some of the key challenges facing the healthcare sector. One major issue that stood out is the shortage of nurses at the Austral Hospital. Due to the economic instability in the country, it causes many…
First Impressions Served Medium Rare
Today was our first day in Buenos Aires, and we hit the ground running with a welcome lunch hosted by IES Abroad. They served a variety of meats, but the steak and chorizo were definitely my favorites. This gave us our first real taste of the local cuisine, and it didn’t disappoint. After lunch, we…
A Dose of Argentina
Hi!! My name is Lauren Novack and I am from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. I just finished my first year at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration, where I’m studying finance and accounting. On campus, I’m involved in Smart Women Securities and Women in Business. In my free time, I love going to the…