THE REQUEST
Our partner requested our services to design and operate a Maymester multi-city program focusing on public healthcare. Utilizing our experience and widespread network, we created an 18-day itinerary across Italy, Switzerland, and The UK. The program incorporated healthcare facility visits, guest lectures, and an international healthcare conference to provide students with an immersive experience of European healthcare.
Requirements
18-day program in Italy, Switzerland, and the UK
Visit major facilities regarding public healthcare
Attendance at the International Conference of Public Health
Complete Logistical Support:
Breakfast Everyday
Accommodation
Group Transfers
Classroom Space
On the ground support
24/7 emergency assistance
Activities incorporating:
International Health Insurance
Search and Rescue: Emergency Medicine
Public Health in Switzerland
UN World Food Agency
Bethlem Royal Psychiatric Hospital
THE PROGRAM SOLUTION
Italy
Our tour began in Rome, where students were transported to the accommodation for the next five days. To get acquainted with the city, students were taken on a walking tour of Rome followed by a family-style Italian dinner in the historical city center. Each morning started with an included breakfast and classroom rental for the professor to teach structured lectures before an afternoon of applying concepts at facilities around Rome. For example, one afternoon we visited the United Nations World Food Programme to examine the emergency practices for providing aid for world hunger and malnutrition as well as understanding sustainable agricultural operations. Additionally, we had a guest lecturer compare and contrast health insurance in Italy vs. the US. To take a break from studies, a cultural excursion was included in the program to San Gimignano in Tuscany so students could enjoy a three-course lunch and wine tasting at an authentic Italian winery while learning about the art and business of wine-making.
Switzerland
From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the striking Swiss Alps, students enjoyed watching the countryside pass by on the private luxury coach to Interlaken, Switzerland. After arrival, students were given a free afternoon to explore the rugged beauty of the quaint Swiss town before digging into their studies for the next few days. The next morning we took a trip up to the mountains to speak with search and rescue crew members lecturing on emergency medicine in difficult terrain. Afterward, we visited a local hospital to learn more about public health in Switzerland and how it differs from other countries. The following day we ventured to the pristine town of Bern to meet with a local university professor to discuss public healthcare and get a tour of the town and campus. Another free afternoon provided students with the opportunity to hike in the Swiss Alps or explore the nearby glacier lakes.
London
Next on the itinerary, a week in London. After a group flight to London, we settled in for the night to prepare for the next two days at the International Conference of Public Health. The conference included an in-depth and diverse approach to discussing the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns in the field of public health. Throughout the conference, students became familiar with topics like how healthcare systems have evolved over time, the role of the government in healthcare, and the relationship between culture and health. The following day was spent traversing London on a guided walking tour to familiarize students with the landscape and highlights before giving them the afternoon to explore at their own pace. The next day students were given some well deserved free time to enjoy London and its vast array of attractions. The last healthcare facility on the itinerary was the Bethlem Royal Psychiatric Hospital. A guest lecturer guided us through the historical practices and implications of the hospital all the way through modern-day operations. Our final day included a classroom rental for a final lecture overview and assessments for the program. Afterward, students had some free time before meeting for a farewell dinner to conclude the trip.
