When studying healthcare systems, it is important to understand how culture can affect a nation’s system – which is why eight students and two faculty in the College of Health Sciences traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to learn about different international health systems, in addition to the Irish, and compare them to those found in the United States.
Kelley Connor, an associate professor for the School of Nursing, and Leslie Kendrick, an associate professor for the Department of Radiologic Sciences, gathered students from multiple disciplines within the College of Health Sciences to spend a total of two weeks at University College Dublin from June 7-22.
Students enrolled in the Boise State summer course, “Comparative Health Systems in an English Speaking Country,” first reviewed the structure, funding and policies of the U.S. health system. The students then finished the course abroad by attending classes alongside 72 other students, all from universities across the U.S., to study multiple health systems.
While studying at University College Dublin, students explored World Health Organization standards, reproductive rights, and barriers to accessing healthcare through classroom lectures and Irish health provider’s presentations.
Students attended half-day classes four days a week and spent the fifth day on University College Dublin cultural excursions, where they would visit educational destinations such as Croke Park and Causey Farm. Students learned more about Irish history, culture and immigration. After classes and on the weekends, students had the opportunity to explore Dublin on their own and visit many destinations throughout Ireland such as Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Giant’s Causeway and more. Students also got to visit The Book of Kells at Trinity College Dublin, Kilmainham Gaol, and the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum with Connor and Kendrick.
Connor and Kendrick met with students twice a week to discuss what they had learned.
“We had some really good conversations with our group each week,” said Connor. “We talked about how the students could take what they learned in class and correlate it back to our discussions on the U.S. health system. We also talked about what new perspectives they might have formed that were illustrated by the cultural differences.”
“We discussed how students could apply what they were learning to their own discipline,” said Kendrick. “We asked the students as future health care providers, how they could imagine improving access to health care and what approach they would like to see to ensure these improvements. We also discussed what the students could take away from the Irish and other international health systems that could be applied in the U.S. and what potentially may not work due to cultural or political policy differences.”
“During our debriefing sessions, students also had the opportunity to learn from one another,” said Connor. “Having students from numerous disciplines really allowed them to experience inter-professional education, as they each shared how within their discipline, they might handle certain situations compared to others.”
College of Health Sciences students who are interested in enrolling in next year’s course for summer 2020 can contact Kendrick at (208) 426-3281 or lesliekendrick@boisestate.edu. College of Health Science students interested in study abroad opportunities in Belize, Ghana or Spain, should contact Connor at kelleyconnor@boisestate.edu.