Global learning in Graz

An international exchange program is immersing Dalhousie medical students in a world-class academic and clinical environment—nearly 6,000km from Halifax.  

The partnership between Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine and the Medical University of Graz, a leading center for innovative medicine in southern Austria, was initiated during the 2023-2024 academic year and also sees Graz students travel to Nova Scotia for hands-on learning experiences.

Located in Austria’s second largest city, Med Uni Graz is recognized for its excellence in international education and research. With over 5,000 students and 2,500 staff, the university offers programs in medicine, dentistry, nursing science, and doctoral studies. Its research strengths span sustainable health, metabolic and cardiovascular science, cancer, neuroscience, and microbiome and infection research.

This past July, two Dalhousie medical students—Kate Palmer from Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick and Bella Willett from Dalhousie Medicine Nova Scotia—traveled to Graz to participate in the Multidisciplinary Educational Course in Pediatric Medicine, a month-long program combining lectures and clinical rotations. The experience gave them the chance to learn alongside peers from around the world and immerse themselves in a European healthcare system.

“I always wanted to do some sort of study abroad,” says Kate. “Pediatrics is my top specialty of interest, so it checked a lot of boxes. The organization of it seemed really applicable, so it felt like a no-brainer to me.”

For Bella, the opportunity was a long-awaited chance to fulfill a goal that had been delayed during her undergraduate years.

“I really wanted to do a summer abroad during my undergrad, but because of COVID, the opportunity never panned out,” she explains. “You learn so much by immersing yourself in different cultures and experiences. Chatting with people from different places, especially in academic settings, gives you both formal and informal experiences, which really highlight learning and growth.”

While Kate and Bella travelled abroad, Dalhousie also welcomed Graz students in April and July for clinical electives, further strengthening the ties between the two institutions.

Alexander Kober is a medical student from Graz, Austria. He travelled to Nova Scotia in July to complete a four-week elective in general pediatric surgery at Dalhousie, an experience he says greatly influenced and inspired his future career goals.

“This exchange strengthened my commitment to sharing knowledge consistently and thoughtfully, as I saw firsthand the profound impact of good teaching. My pediatric surgery elective reinforced my desire to work with children and sparked a deeper interest in pursuing international opportunities during my medical training.” 

He says exchange programs offer a unique opportunity to critically reflect on home practices, appreciate what we often take for granted, and learn positive approaches from other systems—insights that can shape and enhance future work.

Crossing borders to create new perspectives

At the core of this partnership are the transformative experiences of the students. Kate and Bella joined roughly 20 peers at different stages of their careers, ranging from those just finishing their first year to practicing pediatricians. This diversity created a rich learning environment where perspectives on healthcare and training were shared across cultures.

Clinical rotations offered insights into patient care, communication, teamwork, and exposure to European healthcare systems, which Bella says, differed greatly from the Canadian and American systems.

“I was impacted by how physicians communicated directly with children, explaining what was happening with their bodies and taking time to ensure they understood, rather than just speaking to parents,” she says. “It was powerful to see them prioritize communication with patients, and it’s something I want to carry forward in my career.

Kate recalls a standout week in infectious disease, where language barriers could have been a challenge, but instead became an opportunity for collaboration.

“The residents we worked with took so much time and care to explain everything and made us feel involved in the care,” she says. “I also learned a lot from another student who was in her final year of pediatric residency in South Africa. It was incredible to gain insight into both the Austrian and South African healthcare systems in the same week.”

In the classroom, lectures were presented in English, and delivery was similar to what the Dalhousie students were used to. What differed was the subject matter, which was unique, with clinicians and researchers sharing their areas of expertise and interest. Though some topics were familiar, they had not been covered in such depth, providing learners with information they might not otherwise receive from their medical education in Canada. 

Beyond the clinic

For Kate and Bella, the experience in Graz extended far beyond clinical rotations. Living in Graz offered a chance to immerse themselves in a new culture and gain a deeper understanding of global health. With students from South Africa, Peru, India, Poland, Slovenia, Greece, Kosovo, and others, joining them on campus, they were able to learn about the unique structure of education, healthcare and residencies in other countries, while also experiencing authentic Austrian culture. 

“We don’t know how much we don’t know until we see other systems and learn from different people,” says Kate.” Approaching healthcare and education with curiosity and understanding people’s backgrounds is important.”

Bella shares that sentiment, noting that stepping outside her comfort zone was key to personal and professional growth. 

“You can only learn so much in your current space, so I always remind myself to seek out new experiences. The impact is beyond what words can describe.”

She says that the experience also allowed her to consider things on a global scale when interacting with patients, and the importance of seeing things from their perspectives and experiences with the healthcare system.

“It’s important to think about their perspectives and the system they come from. We also gained insight into language barriers, which will help us accommodate international or immigrating citizens and ensure everyone is included in the care team.”

Building global connections

As Dalhousie’s partnership with the Medical University of Graz continues to grow, opportunities like this exchange are shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. For Kate and Bella, the experience broadened their perspectives and brought new insights back to their future practice.

“One big takeaway was the importance of nonverbal communication,” says Kate. I saw clinicians navigate language barriers and realized how crucial nonverbal communication and accommodation are. Regardless of resources, the way you care for patients should remain constant. Even with limited time, meaningful interactions are possible.”

She says it was a privilege to represent Dalhousie and to learn from clinicians and students around the world, and their advice for future students: “Apply.”

“If you’re considering it and feel drawn to it, go for it,” says Bella. “It may be outside your comfort zone, but you’ve prepared in so many ways. You’ll thrive and have incredible experiences.”

Kate agrees and encourages other learners to put themselves out there.

“Even if pediatrics isn’t your main interest, the exposure to another healthcare system and subspecialties is invaluable. Immerse yourself, ask questions, and get involved.”

To learn more about Dalhousie’s partnership with Med Uni Graz please contact: Elise Sammons, Global Health Education Manager