Built-In Fun

May 25, 2016

Fortunately, field trips and excursions are built into my classes. London is a great city that is endowed with medical history. There are several organizations and important people to know that have impacted medicine and healthcare, as a whole system, from the Victorian Era to present day.

During my first two weeks here, I have visited the Florence Nightingale Museum, the Old Operating Theatre, the Science Museum, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the Royal Colleges of Physicians and General Practitioners. Thankfully, we have had a tour guide at almost each of these sites. It’s amazing to go on these tours, and absorb all this information while having the ability to ask any questions. On this dialogue, the group has also gotten the opportunity to visit community settings related to healthcare. My favorite places we have gone were the Burrell Street Sexual Health Clinic and the North London Hospice. I love having field trips and excursions because it is interesting to learn about the history and the advancements made years ago in medicine and how so many of those aspects have carried over into present day medicine.

Personally, my favorite field trip, was a visit to Park Theatre. This theatre was located on the East outskirts of central London. At the theatre, the group and I had the opportunity to watch a performance, ‘Sket’, which was based on the lives of six young teens navigating through the minefield of technological advances and moral dilemmas dealing with major sexual health issues. This play highlighted some really big issues such as sexual orientation, sexting, peer pressure and so much more. It was interesting to watch not only as a teen and a student but as a future healthcare professional. It’s important that as future healthcare professionals, we pay attention to the overall health of patients and social health is one that plays a huge role in everyday lives. Being on this dialogue has really shown me the depth that experiential learning can have on topics in the classroom and is something I’m glad I get to experience for a couple more weeks.

Written By

Tyra Dukes

As a nursing major, it is very hard to squeeze in some study abroad due to my intensive curriculum. So a dialogue of civilizations was a win-win for me. I would have the ability to travel and immerse myself in a different civilization while also getting ahead on some major requirements. Both of which will help my professional career. I think it is important for everyone to be globally conscious but most importantly, health care professionals. At some point in my life, I will work with someone from a different culture so it is important that I understand, how to be culturally competent. That main skill is what I am most looking forward to from this dialogue.