Students explore the future of health care in study-abroad trip to the Netherlands

Students from West Virginia University recently completed a trip to Groningen, Netherlands as part of the School of Medicine’s Exercise Physiology Class: The Future of Healthcare.

The students represented an interdisciplinary group of majors including exercise physiology, health and well-being, biomedical engineering and biology.

Anne Swisher, PT, Ph.D., professor of Physical Therapy, oversaw the trip. She explained that the purpose of the trip was to teach students about the current health care system in the Netherlands and the challenges providers face in reaching the goals of healthy aging and integrating technology into health for citizens.

During the trip, the WVU students studied at Hanze University of Applied Sciences alongside students from Arizona, Canada, Hong Kong and Finland. They attended lectures from faculty in nursing, physiotherapy, speech therapy, public health and other programs.

“Going on the study-abroad trip to Groningen was such a rewarding experience. Having the opportunity to study in another country with students from all over the world was amazing. The biggest takeaway for me was learning the differences and similarities of health care around the world,” said Phoebe Meehan, a student in the Exercise Physiology program. 

The students also visited health care facilities throughout the city such as the local ambulance company, Groningen University Medical Center, a mental health crisis center and a physical rehabilitation hospital.  

“Getting out into the community helps students understand the strengths and challenges of the Dutch health care system,” Swisher said. “They also visited a unique health care farm, where persons with intellectual disabilities cared for farm animals and ran a community cafe under the guidance of volunteer life-skills coaches.”

A highlight of the course was that students worked in interprofessional groups with their peers from other countries to prepare presentations highlighting the similarities and differences between the Dutch agencies and how physical and mental health issues are typically addressed in their home countries.  The course culminated with the groups creating evidence-based posters suggesting ways that health in the Netherlands could benefit from technology, cultural competence and health literacy to help meet the country's health goals.

“Travel changes you and opens your eyes to how people all over the world approach universal human issues, such as health, the environment and education,” said Swisher. “The connections made between the faculty leaders from all the participating universities will enrich our teaching in the future. I encourage all students and faculty to expand their horizons and take advantage of the opportunities to travel and learn that are available through WVU Education Abroad and their wonderful partners throughout the world."

For more information on education abroad opportunities at WVU, visit educationabroad.wvu.edu.

For more information on Exercise Physiology at WVU, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/ep.