Since 2008, nursing students have made an annual trip to Japan and the Tokyo Women’s Medical University. The pandemic changed that. But after a four-year hiatus, a group of students, faculty, staff and alums finally returned. It was a dream come true for many.
For Lizbeth Carranco, class of 2024, this was a trip she had wanted to take since she was little. “I watch a lot of anime, and I just wanted to visit the places they showed,” she shares. “And at Alverno, I remember hearing about the trip, and how you get to learn about the differences in healthcare.”
One thing that stood out for her was the Japanese approach to treating the whole person. “They make sure the patient is 100% OK with all their needs psychologically, physically, emotionally,” she says. Carranco, who currently works as a certified nursing assistant, wants to incorporate that holistic approach into her nursing practice.
Treating the whole person also stood out for Merub Irfan ’23, a biomedical sciences major who graduated in May, and the experience changed her. “I’m more conscious of how important it is to make small changes in your lifestyle,” she says. “Taking the stairs instead of elevators can make a big impact on my health.”
Learning about a different culture, as well as Japan’s advanced medical technology, is what interested Joanna Rodriguez, class of 2024. “Japan has always been advanced and innovative in technology, so I wanted to see how their technology and procedures compared with how we do procedures in the United States,” she says. Innovations like a robot supporting the arms of a doctor doing eye surgery really impressed her.
Valli Sternig, MSN, professor emerita of nursing, accompanied the students on the trip. “The immersion of oneself in a culture which differs from one's own is transformational, promoting personal and professional growth,” she says. “In health care, in particular, in order for us to optimize client, family, group and community well-being, it is critical for us to be culturally sensitive and have cultural humility. Growing in cultural competence contributes to our capability to more successfully partner with those whom we hope to assist.”
In addition to learning about healthcare in Japan, the group did some sightseeing at the Tokyo Tower, the Japanese Parliament, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima and others. The experience was life changing.
“I think it was important for my personal growth to say I can accomplish all of my goals,” says Carranco. “I’m going to show my family that if you work hard, you can go to all the places you really want to go.”
“I was able to explore a lot of things about myself, things I like and things I don’t like,” added Irfan.
“I learned a lot about how they see where I live and how I see where they live,” added Rodriguez. “I think I learned to value life more because they’re always trying to do the best they can to try to help.”
Did You Know?
When our nursing students travel to the Tokyo Women’s Medical University, they’re part of an exchange program. In August, three Japanese students came to Milwaukee for 10 days. While here, they visited Froedtert Hospital, Clement Manor, the state capitol, and spent time with Clarissa Lawrence ’12, ’18, DNP ’21, founder of Community Health PCS, a mobile in-home private practice in Milwaukee.
