Studying and reading about a healthcare system in another part of the world is one way to learn new methods and best practices, but to visit, tour and explore it firsthand truly creates a deeper, richer learning experience. Students in the Kelley School of Business Physician MBA Program recently had the opportunity to do both during the Global Healthcare Experience course, which took them to various healthcare institutions throughout Italy.
“The structure of this course allowed us to anticipate what we’d learn by studying the healthcare system of another country – in this case, Italy – and then provided on-site visits to complement that learning,” said Peter Nalin, MD, FAAFP (MBA’19), associate vice president of university Clinical Affairs at Indiana University School of Medicine and Associate Dean for Educational Expansion. “The course reflects a legitimate, logical construction to it. Prior students who’d experienced the international course said they found it very valuable, and I also found that to be the case.”
Physicians spent several weeks prior to the trip studying the Italian healthcare system – how it is structured, the political and cultural influences, how it differs from our own system or how it is similar. Then students took a nearly two-week trip to Italy, where visits, meetings, tours and cultural trips were planned for 18 students and their travel partners.