Due to the limitations of the ongoing pandemic, study abroad and other valuable international learning opportunities have been limited. Thanks to a collaboration between West Virginia University and Amizade, the Brazil Virtual Service Learning Program at West Virginia allowed students to learn about the health care system directly from doctors in medicine, physical therapy and dentistry in an online environment.
WVU has partnered with Amizade, a nonprofit organization that organizes safe, sustainable and collaborative global services and learning experiences, for more than two decades. The organization’s service programs have enabled students to travel to countries such as Bolivia, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago and many more.
“It’s important for students to get out of the bubbles of their cities and campuses,” said Beth Nardella, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Human Performance. “You have to leave your comfort zone to understand how you can best serve your local community. However, when travel is not an option, we still have excellent opportunities for cross-cultural service and learning.”
As an interprofessional experience, 14 students from the exercise physiology, nursing, and health policy programs in the Health Sciences were able to share aspects of their fields while learning about the collaborative nature of the health care system in Brazil. This program specifically provided students with a valuable experiential learning component in their education through discussions with providers from various areas of medical and clinical practice. Their discussions were followed by reflection sessions where students shared their stories. In addition, several sessions addressed the social and cultural beliefs and customs of the Amazon region.
“During our time together, we discussed topics related to mental health care, Brazil’s indigenous population, the health effects of climate change, the arts as a form of advocacy, and what it’s like to work in the public and private sectors. healthcare in Brazil,” said Rachel Minter, a junior from Beckley, West Virginia, studying exercise physiology. “Even though we weren’t able to meet in person, I was still able to communicate and listen effectively to the speakers different and to get to know each other better.”
Lauren Collins, a junior from Vienna, Virginia studying exercise physiology, noted that the course conveyed valuable and in-depth information from people with first-hand experience.
“It’s one thing to listen to stories from the news and other media to get information, but it’s another thing to hear from people who lived and saw it. I now have a greater understanding and respect for Brazilian culture and people that can be applied to others around the world.”
Virtual learning in the course lasted two weeks and was followed by a field service experience, which students completed through the Get Moving! Game Day event held in Morgantown on July 16th.
Nardella expects the partnership to continue to grow and provide unique opportunities for students.
“Amizade had to make some radical changes to survive the pandemic, and these will allow more flexible options for students, including internship options in Bolivia and Brazil for exercise physiology students.”
