Despite a missed flight and long travel days, I finally made it to Belfast, Northern Ireland! I’m Eileen and I’m a first-year student majoring in rehabilitation science on the pre-occupational therapy track. I’m participating in the Social Roots of Medical Innovation Maymester pilot program partnered with Queen’s University Belfast (shown below).

I chose this location because Belfast is a place that I’ve never been to before, and I also have family in Dublin. Learning about the narrative and perspective behind The Troubles and its parallels to Freedom House EMS in Pittsburgh’s Hill District is something I find interesting. After my first few days here, although it has been very rainy (except for today!), I look forward to learning more about Belfast’s history and how it differs in its healthcare system from the U.S.

I really enjoyed the Irish Breakfast I got today (pictured above) at Maggie Mays, a popular, local spot for students.

The other day I was able to get honeycomb ice cream with friends and sticky toffee pudding (pictured below) from spots close to the university’s campus that I loved!

I also visited the Royal Victoria Hospital that served as the frontline of the conflict. I learned how Dr. Pantridge invented a portable defibrillator that made heart attacks outside of the hospital possible and how they gradually reduced the weight to increase efficiency. I want to specialize in cardiovascular rehabilitation and I find the development of this innovation to be very fascinating! As shown below, there is a picture of the nursing staff in the hospital ward back then.

Overall, I am really excited to learn about Belfast’s culture and explore Derry as well as the Antrim Coast. I hope to apply what I learn here to my studies back in Pittsburgh relating to the standards of care. I can’t wait to experience more this week!