SPC Participates in Costa Rica Healthcare and Wellness Expedition

Two St. Philip’s College students gained firsthand experience with international health care systems and global learning during a Healthcare and Wellness Expedition to Costa Rica held July 5-12 through a partnership with Universidad de Iberoamerica Costa Rica, known as UNIBE.

Four additional students from across the Alamo Colleges District participated in the expedition, which was led by two St. Philip’s College faculty members: Beatrice Avila, program director and assistant professor, and Melinda A. Jalufka, clinical coordinator and faculty instructor in the Health Information Technology program.

The expedition provided students with opportunities to explore Costa Rica’s health care system, engage with health care professionals and observe health care practices in an international setting. UNIBE, which owns Hospital UNIBE, served as a key partner, providing educational and experiential learning opportunities throughout the program.

“It was more than experiencing a new country. It was a journey of growth, independence and discovery while honoring my heritage,” Avila said. “The transformation in health care education in Costa Rica is so advanced that it has inspired me to look into the opportunities there for my own family.”

The program began with an orientation and campus tour at UNIBE, followed by a lecture on Costa Rica’s health care system and a Spanish language class. Students then observed the country’s health care system, participated in a volunteer activity at a care center and visited a hospital to learn about health care practices in Costa Rica.

The itinerary also included cultural and academic activities designed to strengthen students’ global competencies. Students participated in a cooking class, explored chemistry in a laboratory, visited a simulation center, attended a dance class and toured museums, markets and downtown San Jose.

The group also traveled to Poas Volcano National Park, the Doka Coffee Tour and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, providing opportunities to learn more about Costa Rican culture, geography and communities.

“This experience strengthened my cultural humility and reminded me of the importance of listening, learning and building relationships,” Jalufka said. “It gave me the opportunity to share knowledge and reminded me how important it is to recognize the value of diverse perspectives in health care education.”

The Costa Rica expedition also marked the first opportunity for Alamo Colleges students to earn the Alamo Global Learner badge, an official recognition of global learning and engagement that can be included on a student’s co-curricular record, providing students with a verifiable credential documenting their participation and development of global competencies.

For St. Philip’s College students, the Costa Rica expedition connected health care education with international experiences while providing opportunities to develop skills beyond the classroom.