My time on the Comparative Healthcare Program in Graz has unfortunately come to an end. After 4 weeks, I can finally say I have experienced being out of the country and experience another culture.

Trip Summary

Throughout the four weeks in the Comparative Healthcare Program, we were able to tour multiple healthcare facilities in Graz, Austria and throughout Slovenia. In Graz, we toured the medical university hospital, an assisted living facility, homeless shelters and communities, pharmacies, a center for the disabled, and the Red Cross. In Slovenia, we toured an herbal garden, a beekeeping farm, a nursing home, a mountain rescue team, a virtual reality CPR training, an emergency room, and an ICU. All throughout this time, we studied Austrian history, the Austrian healthcare system, the American healthcare system, and the history of medicine. From all of these experiences, I have learned the differences between healthcare systems and what works for what countries. I hope to be able to apply this knowledge and everything I have learned to my future career of a physical therapist to be the best healthcare provider as possible. Hopefully, all of this knowledge will help me understand different ways to figure out what works for different treatments and people and how to go about relating to a patient.

Along with touring healthcare facilities, we were able to visit numerous cities and events. In Graz, we had an excursion to Piber to see a horse breeding farm and also saw an Opera while in Graz. We traveled on the weekends and was able to explore Salzburg and Vienna. In Slovenia, we were stationed in Maribor; however, we explored the whole country of Slovenia by seeing Ljubljana (the capital), the Postojna Caves, and Lake Bled. While I enjoyed Graz and everywhere we traveled, I absolutely loved Salzburg. We were able to take a cable car up the alps and hike to the point you could see Germany on one side and Austria on the other. It was also incredibly cool to see so many buildings built into mountains. I also greatly enjoyed Slovenia. Ljubljana was a very beautiful city that I hope to return to and see more of. The Postojna Caves were incredible. It was crazy to believe that they were just made like that. Also, Lake Bled was absolutely stunning! I am so incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to explore so many places in a period of time.

Reflections

Studying abroad has improved my life academically, professionally, and personally. Academically, I have learned about subjects that I wouldn’t have really been taught about without going abroad. I would’ve never done such a deep dive into the Austrian healthcare system. I also learned even more time management skills to juggle touring and experiencing as much as possible while still taking classes and maintaining the coursework. Professionally, I have learned much about what it takes to be a good healthcare provider. I believe that I have learned what the benefits of the Universal healthcare system is and how to try and push for some of these benefits in the American healthcare system. I have also been able to compare the Austrian and American healthcare systems in order to learn what the benefits and true differences of the two are. Personally, I have made lifelong friends on this trip and have had the opportunity to meet students at the University of Graz and the University of Maribor. We met with the American Studies students at both Universities in order to talk with them, answer any questions they have, and ask any questions we have. I have also grown in confidence. After being able to travel alone successfully, I feel as though I have grown confidence overall.

Austria strives to bring universal healthcare to all. The places that stuck out to me the most were both in Graz, Austria. These were the Mosaik, a center for the disabled, and the Vinzi Dorf, a homeless shelter and community. These places were incredible. Mosaik was a one stop shop for anything the disabled could need. It is a government funded center that has physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, hippo therapy, nurses for each room, specialized teachers, sensory rooms, and arts and crafts all in one place. Vinzi Dorf is a place for homeless men to create a sense of community with pods for their own rooms, chore charts, and a place to call home. I hope to be able to talk about healthcare facilities like these while back in the United States to hopefully make it possible to fund places like these!