An evening walk alongside the Tower Bridge in London

Author: Ashton Jones | Major: Biology

My name is Ashton Jones, and I am a senior in the Fulbright Honors College working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in psychology and medical humanities. Having the opportunity to study abroad has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. This dream became a reality with the help of the University of Arkansas Honors College Study Abroad Grant that I was awarded last year. As a student pursuing a career in the medical field, I knew I wanted to participate in a program that would encompass global health and expand my perspective regarding medical and human health topics. The Frontiers in Human Health course I took at the St. George’s Hospital, University of London, did just that by focusing on these topics and centering their program for pre-medical and medical students interested in global health challenges and innovations. This course provided me with an understanding of the world’s major health problems and integrated this learning into infection, immunity, genomic, medicine, and translational medicine.

In addition to the lecture portion of the class, I was also able to gain research and lab experience by working with world-renowned researchers at the hospital. The research project I conducted focused on characterizing the phenotype of fetal-liver-derived alveolar macrophages. This research is significant to both scientific research and the medical field because it could provide researchers with a way to study the intricate properties of alveolar macrophages, which are crucial to our immune system function and inflammatory regulation. With that being said, having the opportunity to execute the lab techniques I have studied for years in school was an incredible experience. It allowed me to gain skills I will carry into my future career for the rest of my life.

Taking this course broadened my perspective of the medical field, as I was immersed in a health care system that is vastly different than the system implemented in the United States. My time in London allowed me to gain a new perspective of the American health care system and health care systems worldwide, which further developed my future goals and values as an aspiring physician. Being only one of two students from America taking the course, I engaged in constructive discussions regarding health care systems with both the faculty and students. Doing so expanded my cultural aptitude to a more significant extent than I could have ever imagined. After completing the program, I can honestly say that the other students and faculty members that I developed relationships with at St. George’s changed me for the better as both a student and person.

A weekend trip to Paris visiting the Opéra national de Paris

Outside of the classroom, having the opportunity to explore London for a month was an experience I will cherish forever. London’s vibrant culture made each day a new adventure. Although checking off all of London’s extravagant tourist attractions on my bucket list are some of my favorite memories, my most memorable moments in London were some of the most simple. Hopping on and off the tube, or walking from one borough to the next, is what began my never-ending love story with London. Stumbling into a different borough was like immersing myself in a new culture and city, each with its own unique personality. Whether it was finding a local flower shop, a bridge with the most beautiful sunset, or a square with musicians filling the streets melodies, I was constantly filled with excitement for what I would find next and a desire that each moment could last forever. With that being said, my advice for students hoping to study abroad would be to cherish each moment to its fullest extent and spend each day in your destination as if it is your last. Studying abroad is an adventure that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and I hope each student who travels abroad can leave their experience remembering the feelings and memories of even the most simple moments of their time there.