Germany 2024: A Transformative Journey
Two faculty members in the 91社区 College of Nursing and Health Professions had no idea what they were getting into when they decided to lead a study abroad trip to Osnabr眉ck, Germany, at the end of the Spring Semester, May 10-20, 2024. Little did they know that 18 students would sign up鈥損ossibly the largest group 91社区 has ever taken to the University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule).
Dr. Erin Reynolds, Associate Professor and Chair of 91社区鈥檚 Health Services and Health Administration programs, is no stranger to international travel, having spent considerable time in Africa studying infectious diseases. But she admits she found it a bit daunting that so many students were interested and that many of them had never traveled outside the United States. Luckily, she had Dr. Zachary Ward, Assistant Professor of Health Administration, to help lead the students around Europe, which turned out to be an incredible experience with unique insights and learning opportunities.
Students learned about the German healthcare system from a local perspective and had conversations with German students that highlighted differences and similarities with the U.S. system. They discovered how medical insurance works in Europe and even toured a hospital in M眉nster, Germany, which included some surprise 鈥渂ehind the scenes鈥� experiences, such as scrubbing in for surgery and observing a da Vinci robotic surgery on a liver.
Outside the classroom, the cultural immersion was equally rewarding. On their first day, they went shopping with German students, which proved to be a fun and practical way to start the trip and allowed students to bond and navigate the city together. They went sightseeing with their German guides and participated in several fun activities like the Maifest (Mayfest), which helped them understand the German culture in a broader context. The trip also included a one-day trip to Amsterdam and two days in Berlin, Germany.