Author: Olivia Smith | Major: Exercise Science | Semester: Summer 2025
Enjoying a Swedish hot dog at a local rivalry fútbol match.
Studying abroad was a no-brainer for me; fueled by my love for traveling, learning about and experiencing a variety of cultures, and trying new things, I always dreamed of furthering my education beyond the borders of the United States. As a student studying Exercise Science on the pre medical track, I was lucky enough to have a plethora of programs to apply for. After reading about a few programs, narrowing down my option based on preferences (i.e. faculty-led vs. outside program, intersession vs. full term, etc.), and speaking to a few friends who had participated in some of the programs before, I fell in love with Health Teams Abroad in Sweden!
For starters, the program holistically and comparatively explores the healthcare systems in both the United States and Sweden— this is a piece of the larger puzzle of medicine that I hadn’t even considered before but that I found to be so intriguing! What specifically makes this such an interesting topic is that the United States and Sweden follow two completely different healthcare models; the United States is majority individual health insurance operated, and Sweden follows a universal healthcare model. Health Teams Abroad in Sweden dissects this topic by allowing students to attend site visits, learn from guest lecturers (or be guest students in a lecture), promoting group collaboration, and encouraging students to ask questions both at home and overseas. Technically, the program began in the second eight weeks of the spring semester when the group met weekly for our pre-departure meetings (typically consisting of guest lecturing, site visits, and logistical/informational sessions). However, the portion of the program that takes place abroad in Sweden was about three weeks. Although three weeks sounds rather short, the length of the program was a perfect fit for me, and the group of students participating in the program was able to grow so close so quickly.
From private and public healthcare facilities, to nursing homes, to preschools, to rehabilitation and habilitation centers, each site visit was independently informational while cohesive with the others. Witnessing how each facility functioned, the general attitude of the healthcare professionals in each setting, and the level of accessibility and quality of care made comparing what we had previously been learning about and/or experiencing in the American healthcare system much more simple. The group also took part in a series of informational lectures on a multitude of topics surrounding Swedish healthcare that made understanding the foundational knowledge necessary to appreciating the site visits accessible. These lectures were given at Jönköping University in Jönköping, Sweden by university faculty sometimes in the presence of Swedish students. While being immersed in the Swedish classroom setting, we were given time to chat with the students about their experiences with their healthcare system, what their career aspirations are, and what they do for fun in their free time! In my opinion, the most interesting part about both the lectures and the site visits was how each of them acted as small pieces in the grand puzzle that is the Swedish healthcare system, encapsulating how each moving part is crucial to the successful operation of the whole. Further, even in specific places, like apreschool, or within specific topics, like government taxation, that seem like they might not relate to healthcare on the surface, they are still involved.
Of course, through this program I learned lots of technical information and had the opportunity to see it applied in many settings. However, one of the most valuable lessons that seemed to be echoed louder and louder each day was one of empathy. It should be common knowledge that working in healthcare requires empathy, right? However, in so many circumstances, the common consensus is a plea for healthcare professionals to act with more empathy. Almost every healthcare professional that met with us in Sweden ended their presentation or discussion with some sort of reminder to choose healthcare to better the lives of people who will eventually count on us to do so and to do so with adequate knowledge, efficiency, and a kind, empathetic heart. Even though this reminder seems like a given or may even sound like a broken record to those entering healthcare professions, it truly is a foundational aspect of quality care. While I’m not necessarily returning home to my own practice, adhering to schedule of appointments everyday, emphasizing empathy in every interaction I have with others will not only prepare me for my future in healthcare, but it will just as importantly make me a better person in the meantime.