Learn about the experience of the University students abroad
Rodrigo Chultz is a sixth-year medical student at PUCRS. / Photo: Personal archive
Internationalization is one of PUCRS’s pillars, and it is through partnerships with universities abroad that students from the Medicine program at PUCRS can carry out internships in hospitals all around the world. During their academic break, or even throughout the internship, students have the chance to experience the reality of health systems in different countries, expanding their professional knowledge and cultural experiences.
These partnerships provide fundamental experience for the professional development of doctors with a broad and up-to-date view of medical practices, allowing them to adapt to diverse contexts and to develop crucial skills for their careers. The sixth-year student at the PUCRS School of Medicine Rodrigo Chultz chose the Maputo Central Hospital (HCM), in Mozambique, to carry out his internship.
“The excellent connection between PUCRS and HCM and the possibility of learning in a diverse context were crucial for my choice. Mozambique, with its rich cultural diversity and unique challenges in the health sector, offers an exceptional opportunity to understand how health systems work in a context of limited resources,” he explains.
The student Miguel Ângelo Uflacker chose the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in Canada, based on the country’s receptiveness to international students, as well as on the institution being a reference for mental health care services in Canada.
“In all the sectors I was involved in, several professionals I worked with were from other countries, which enriched my internship even more, since they all had different life experiences and professional practice,” shares Miguel Ângelo, who is a fourth-year medical student.
The student Miguel Ângelo Uflacker chose to carry out his international internship at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in Canada. / Photo: Personal archive
One of the greatest challenges faced by students who are looking forward to an international internship is adapting to the new academic and cultural environment. For Rodrigo, every new beginning in a new environment is challenging and requires gradual adaptation, so he shares some advice with student who dream of this opportunity:
“Do research on the culture, customs, and social norms of the country who are going to. And be willing to learn, not only academically but also about different ways to live, think, and behave.”
Laura Saraiva, fourth-year medical student at PUCRS, carried out her internship at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, in the United States, and had a smooth adaptation. The student believes this was due to the fact that she had the opportunity to receive guidance from the university even while she was still preparing for the trip.
“We were also welcomed with an orientation day along with the other students. All of this made the adaption smooth, but I can’t say there were no challenges,” says Laura.
Experiences abroad are excellent opportunities for students to analyze the perspective of patient care in other parts of the world. For Miguel, supporting confined people suffering from mental disorders during his internship was a significant experience: “Coming into contact with these patients’ treatments further reinforced my conviction that everyone deserves dignified treatment and a second chance. Those who have the means and the opportunity to experience this, do so, because it changes our perspective on medicine and the world.”
When asked about how the international experience changed his perspective on patient care, Rodrigo explains that language, values, and cultural beliefs shape how the patients understand disease and treatments.
“A good healthcare professional needs to be sensitive to these perspectives when discussing diagnoses or treatment options. Active listening and respect for local culture are crucial,” highlights Rodrigo.
From left to right: Draiton de Souza (Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies), Victória Baptista (Medical student and University Buddy), Carolin Reif (University of Ulm), Jana Tertel (University of Ulm), and Leonardo Araújo (Dean of the School of Medicine). / Photo: Personal archive
PUCRS also welcomes students from other international higher education institutions, so they can come into contact with the Brazilian healthcare system. That was the case for students Andrea Gongora Nava (Monterrey Insitute, Mexico), Carolin Annika Reif, and Jana Tertel, seventh-year Medical students at the University of Ulm, in Germany.
For the Ulm students, choosing Brazil and the PUCRS School of Medicine was very easy, because they wanted to spend more time in Brazil and improve the language: “My mother is Brazilian, and at 18 shed moved to Germany, where I was born. But I already carried out a holiday internship in Santa Catarina. I also wanted to improve my Portuguese and wanted to spend more time in Brazil,” says Jana.
For Carolin, language was challenging in the first days of her internship in the Surgical ward at the PUCRS São Lucas Hospital (HSL): “I arrived with good Portuguese skills, but European Portuguese, so it took me some time to adapt to the Brazilian accent. It was very different at first, but after two weeks I had gotten used to it, I think it was quick. Now I don’t have a hard time anymore.”
Brazilian and German healthcare systems have their differences, and Jana noticed that, here, SUS is a unified system and everyone has access to it, but it can be slow and not all medication is available. “There in Germany, our system is quite different, but I also think everyone has access to it, because they have to pay for a health plan, and if you can’t pay for it, the government helps. So, in that sense, everyone has access to it.”
Carolin says that a positive aspect is that there are many prevention practices in Brazil (unlike in Germany), but that our system still lacks good communication. “I think the outpatient clinics lack of information and it’s often hard to get it. Doctors need to make calls to get information, but they often don’t have the time for that,” she explains.
Both Carolin and Jana stress the fact that professors and doctors are always willing to help and contribute to enriching the internship experience. “There are no more words, I believe pretty much every area will have a great impact in my life, and we learn a lot here in the hospital, because all the doctors are so nice and explain so much, and I think it will be useful for my professional life. I think I’ll never forget everything I have done here,” says Carolin.
The experience was so enriching that Jana is already planning on returning to Brazil: “I’m even thinking of doing part of my residency here because I believe that here you learn the practical side better, you learn to be creative, to try harder,” she says.
To help students who wish to participate in these international programs, the School of Medicine has an Internationalization Center, specialized in guiding and supporting students. The center provides information on the various internship programs available, as well as clarifies any doubts on how to participate in these exchanges.
