The United States is seeking to become more inclusive with health care coverage and to ensure coverage for all in the future.

• What do other countries do about health care?
• How does the health status of Americans compare with the health status of citizens of other countries?
• What can we learn from health care in other countries?
• What can America do to help others in need of health care services?

These and other questions are addressed in an innovative course/trip to another country. The trip and class occur each year during spring break. For 2011, Prague, the Czech Republic was our destination.

Link to Trip Promotion Document (.doc)

Recently Behnaz Chehrazi visited the Allied Health seminar offered by the Health Sciences & Services Department.  Ms. Chehrazi is a physicist from Iran who recently completed her master's degree in medical nuclide technique at Uppsala University in Sweden. She expects to pursue her doctorate in medical physics in the U.S. This field of study is generally understood to be part of radiologic sciences, a field for which a number of IU students are preparing. 

Novartis Trip Review -- Health Sciences Club

On Thursday, November 10^th, 2011 a small group of Immaculata Health Sciences Club members had a very educational  and enjoyable trip to Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, part of the global pharmaceutical company at their facility in East Hanover, New Jersey. Novartis corporate is based in Basil, Switzerland.  Under the supervision of Dr. Eric Anderson, the Chair of Health Sciences and Services  and the club advisor and van driver for the day, the trip turned out to be outstanding for everyone involved. At Novartis, Immaculata students started the four-hour program with a presentation by senior scientific leaders of the company providing the attendees with an understanding of the drug development, research and approval process including how factors vary according the health authorities (e.g FDA) in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Then a discussion ensued with scientists of various specialties and backgrounds including the executive directors of Translational Sciences and Translational Medicine (we learned what those are!). At lunch students found tables set with place cards. Novartis representatives had thoughtfully arranged each student to sit and dine with a scientist or doctor whose specialty is of particular interest to that specific student. This provided an invaluable opportunity to ask questions and gain insight and knowledge from professionals in the scientific fields relevant to the pharmaceutical industry as well as clinical medicine. The students were also advised of significant internship opportunities. Most were in awe during the tours to the animal labs and the electron microscopy lab. One of the tour leaders admitted that though she had worked for the company for a few years, she herself had never seen what the students saw. The Directors of the laboratories gave the tours which were detailed and specific orientations to the process of scientific development of first “compounds” and ultimately medicine. At the end of the exciting tour of the company facilities,  each student was given a Novartis imprinted mug as a great souvenir. In all respects, it was an invaluable and fun experience for everyone to learn more about pharmaceutical industry, understand the scientific basis for medicines and the development of products, appreciate the business aspects of the global pharmaceutical industry, and  have the opportunity of networking with people working in the healthcare field. Awesome was the general reaction. Novartis rolled out the red carpet for Immaculata students. Thanks!!!