Hello! My name is Mandy Cooper, and I am a junior nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh. During my time at Pitt, I have become increasingly interested in global health and addressing/reducing health disparities. After taking several classes to obtain a Certificate in Global Health, I am even more motivated to learn about international health care systems and to practice nursing across boarders. It is imperative that I understand health care in a global context to be an effective, culturally competent nurse.

A little bit about me…I am a Golden Girl in the University of Pittsburgh’s Varsity Marching Band, a member of the Pitt Ski & Board Club, and a Caving Co-Chair for the Pitt Outdoors Club. I am also involved in undergraduate research and am a Bachelor’s of Philosophy Candidate, aiming to present my Thesis about experiences treating hearing loss in young patients next fall. In my sorority, Delta Zeta, I am the American Sign Language/Accessibility Chair. This summer, I am working at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh as a Student Nurse Intern in the NICU.

This May, I am fortunate enough to travel to Switzerland with the School of Nursing to learn about Switzerland’s health care system and nursing roles. I’ll be traveling with 17 other nursing students to Zurich, Basel, Berne, Interlaken, Geneva, and Montreux to learn more about the culture and to hear from various lecturers. In the future, I hope to do further education or work abroad, so this study abroad program is going to lay a meaningful foundation for those goals.

Switzerland has a reputation of being one of the best health care systems in the world. They have very high patient satisfaction and practice a form of universal health care that ensures everyone is covered by health insurance. We will visit different universities, hear from researchers with active grants, and tour a big pharmaceutical company’s campus. I am incredibly eager to learn more about the inter-workings of this health care system and about nursing education in Switzerland.

I am so excited to meet new people, learn from international nursing students, and immerse myself in a new culture, so please follow along as I post updates about my time abroad!