Visiting Uppsala for the day
Name: Sriya Puvvada | Major: Biomedical Engineering | Semester: Summer 2025
As a pre-medical student, I aimed to expand my healthcare knowledge to become a competent healthcare provider. To achieve this, I knew that I needed to broaden my perspective on healthcare beyond the United States. With this in mind, I joined the faculty-led Health Teams Abroad program in Sweden. I chose to study abroad in Sweden due to their renowned universal healthcare system that emphasized accessible, equitable, and preventative care – a vastly different model compared to the United States. This summer, I spent three weeks in Sweden, primarily in Jönköping and Stockholm – both distinct cities that together offered a comprehensive view of Swedish life.
In Jönköping – a city encapsulates a peaceful atmosphere with idyllic
landscapes and scenery – I attended lectures provided by Jönköping University, where
I learned more about Sweden’s healthcare model, education, interprofessional health
care emphasis, and engaged with fellow Swedish students for a more personal
understanding of healthcare. To complement my lectures, I visited healthcare sites
such as hospitals, private clinics, rehabilitation centers, and even a preschool. I
appreciated observing how the theoretical concepts we learned in class were
implemented in real-life settings. This immersion technique was unlike any learning
method I have interacted with, and it deeply reinforced my understanding of
Swedish’s healthcare and educational models.
Additionally, conversing with Swedish lecturers and healthcare professionals
expanded my perspective of healthcare beyond traditional solutions to medicine and
considered alternative solutions that may cultivate patient-centric care. I know that I’ll
carry forward these valuable lessons in my future career.
Outside of the classroom, I was able to explore the breathtaking natural
scenery Sweden had to offer ranging from hiking along the Haasafalls trail with its
expansive overlook of Jönköping to biking through the movie-like Visingsö Island. In
these moments, I could easily see myself calling Sweden my home.
For the final leg of our trip, we travelled to Stockholm – a city that is always
alive –where I saw a fusion of modern architecture with historically significant sites
such as the Royal Palace and City Hall. Beyond historically significant sites, I had the
chance to directly witness a historic moment: the IIHF Men’s Championship Hockey
game between the United States and Switzerland. Throughout the game, I was on the
edge of my seat, and when Team USA scored the winning goal – their first
championship since 1933 – all I felt was pure electricity of the moment running
through me. Needless to say, I have become a huge fan of ice hockey.
In between these eventful experiences, some of my core memories of the trip
stemmed from the simple moments Sweden offered such as watching the sun rise
from my hotel window, walking through a local farmer’s market, sifting through
vintage thrift shops, and using the public transportation system. These moments truly
immersed me into Swedish culture and made me feel like a true Swede.
To students who are planning to study abroad, I recommend that you embrace
the unknown. As someone who likes to stay in their comfort zone, I understand how
easy it may be to forgo new experiences, but some of my best memories came from
trying new things. You may encounter some challenges – culture shock, confusing bus
systems, language barriers – but you also gain new memories, experience new
cultures, and cultivate new perspectives.