Helping Students Go Global

Dr. Melody Ryan of the College of Pharmacy and her husband Stephen, a faculty member in the Department of Neurology in the College of Medicine, have established a fund to help enable pharmacy students in their final year of rotation to have an international experience. “We want to remove barriers,” explains Dr. Ryan. “International experience is very broadening.”

Students have been able to study in such places as China, Ecuador, Canada, Scotland and Haiti. “You don’t have to go to a developing country to get experience,” says Dr. Ryan. “Students in Canada and Scotland are working in the Ministry of Health. They’ll be well–positioned to address the issues of socialized medicine that may arise with health care reform.”

By helping defray expenses for these students, Dr. Ryan’s gift helps add another dimension to students’ educational experience; one that increases their depth of understanding. Exposure to another culture not only allows one to learn about different way of addressing issues; it also allows one to examine their own culture more closely.

Dr. Ryan and her husband have traveled extensively, particularly in Asia. “So many of our students have never been able to travel,” says Dr. Ryan, “When I was a student, I wouldn’t have been able to go either.” Her generosity is helping provide students with an educational opportunity she was unable to pursue herself.

Students interested in learning more about international educational experiences should contact Education Abroad at http://abroad.ad.uky.edu/ or visit the the International Affairs office in Bradley Hall.