Submitted by Brooke Oxenhandler on the 2024 Winter HLTH program in Rome, Italy…
Studying abroad in Italy has been nothing short of amazing so far! I am enjoying getting to know everyone in my group and also adjusting to the lifestyle here. Our pack of 14 people has gotten very close over the past week and we do almost everything together. We have taken several walking tours through the city of Rome, seen lots of major historical landmarks, navigated various types of public transportation, and have been exploring countless options for food! As expected, we have been eating tons of pasta and pizza, but each meal is better than the last! So far, my favorites have been a gnocchi dish I tried at a restaurant right next to the Colosseum, sandwiches we were amazed by near the Trevi fountain, and a piece of the most amazing lasagna I’ve ever tried!
One thing I have already appreciated, but have been fascinated by is the architecture in Rome. Every building looks like it has a vast history and immense importance, even if you turn the corner and realize it is a fast food establishment. I cannot help but take a photograph of every street I walk on since the buildings all look so elegant. The landscape along with the art exhibits and sculptures have been amazing to see and pictures barely do it justice!
Our program connects us with physicians in a nearby hospital where we shadow for 5 hours each weekday, and we have learned so much already! My first week was spent shadowing in the Oncology unit, both with inpatient wings and in the Day Hospital. I have seen the ins and outs of the physicians’ meetings, discussions, and care towards their patients. Although it is a very emotional department, I have loved being able to see it up close and interact with compassionate healthcare providers. They have
also been speaking in English whenever they can, which has been super helpful! On one of the days, my group even learned about the ways data is input for clinical trial candidates and the criteria they have to follow, which was very informative and interesting.
Although Italy seems to be fairly close to what I had imagined it would be, one thing I did not expect was how different healthcare is. One major difference that I find very interesting is the use of paper records. I learned that since their online database is not validated to be their only place for record keeping, they must also keep binders or folders with any relevant patient information. This was very shocking to see since we have been moving on to fully electronic records for some years now in the U.S.! Another thing that has been difficult to getting used to is understanding traffic patterns as a pedestrian. Lots of people driving in Italy will not stop for people walking by, even across crosswalks! I think I have already gotten better at anticipating what drivers will do on the roads within the past week.
It has been fantastic getting acclimated to this city and spending time seeing what it has to offer; I cannot wait to see what is in store for next week! (Submitted on January 14, 2024)
