In an increasingly global world, it only makes sense that the medical profession globalize as well. A healthcare professional in Kentucky can become an asset to surrounding counties, states, and even foreign countries in this day and age. Through the UK College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant (PA) education abroad programs, our students are receiving a comprehensive look at international health care.

Gerry Gairola, PhD, PA, professor emeritus who leads the education abroad program, has always been interested in cross-cultural studies in health care. “I had a great deal of experience in developing interdisciplinary geriatric teams in Appalachia through federal grants and had been teaching geriatrics (health care practices specific to older populations) to physician assistant students for many years,” she said. “Thus, the education abroad program I developed brought together several interests that I wanted to be able to share with UK students in terms of an education abroad program.”

In 2009, Gairola began working on her application for the College of Health Sciences Educational Enhancement Grant. “I applied to start an education abroad program to Great Britain focused on the British National Health Service in England, Scotland and Wales and how these services improve the care of older people,” she continued. “At that time, there were few education abroad programs available for students in the health sciences and none were available centered on older populations.”

The benefits of such a study abroad program were already well-known and eagerly expected. “In general, education abroad programs help students to become more culturally sensitive and self-confident,” Gairola said. “Students also become more adaptable and resilient. Since this program includes students from many health-related fields, it also enhances students’ appreciation for how providers in other fields contribute to health care. Furthermore, learning about the British National Health Service presents an opportunity for students to see first-hand the complexity of global health issues and perhaps to become more open-minded.”

Phil Begg, PhD, who works at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham, England and is involved in the PA study abroad program, adds that a more accurate worldview also comes with the trip. “The experience of studying in another country is, for the student, an opportunity to immerse one’s self in the different healthcare issues and priorities,” he said. “For the student it is an important component of healthcare study to understand that communities globally will have similar health needs in common areas such as trauma, general surgery, cardiovascular and cancer care—but will also have nation specific issues such as contagious disease like malaria, for example.”

Before departure, students are prepared for the program via assigned readings and discussion in order to maximize the educational impact of the trip. Then, each day of the two-week program, students and faculty travel together to various health care venues like the University of Sterling’s Dementia Services Development Center in Sterling, Scotland; the Gnosall Health Centre in Gnosall, England; the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham, England; the Care and Repair Centre, Welsh Assembly Government in Cardiff, Wales; and St. Christopher’s Hospice in London, England.

“The visits include presentations about the British National Health Service and how each organization works to improve the care of aged populations,” Gairola said. “We spend time reviewing the organization and purpose of the work carried out by each agency. Students then listen to lectures and take tours at each health facility. Later they are asked to journal about each venue and implement reflective writings that outline what they learned from each site.”

At the end of the program, students are left with a look into global healthcare as well as a fuller education. “More and more employers today are looking for students who have cross-cultural competence and a global perspective,” Gairola explained. “For example, students who have studied abroad can be better prepared to meet the needs of diverse patient populations in the United States. Internationally minded health care providers are often more knowledgeable about our own health care system and how it compares to other countries. They also tend to become more open-minded and flexible practitioners.”

“It’s important for graduates to be able to take a global perspective in terms of health and health care,” Gairola said. “What happens in one part of the world often happens here, for example in terms of epidemics, disasters, etc. In addition, graduates should be able to seek new, evidence-based practices from other countries and be able apply them to improving health care in the United States.”