HPD Perspectives Magazine Summer/Fall 2019

8 | DR. PALLAVI PATEL COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES The Karolinska Institutet is a medical university within the Stockholm urban area of Sweden. It is recognized as Sweden’s best university and is one of the largest, most prestigious medical universities in the world. Since 2007, students from NSU and the Karolinska Institutet have engaged in an exchange program for clinical internships during the students’ final year in the physical therapy (PT) programs. To date, NSU has sent 22 Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) students, usually in pairs, to the Karolinska Institutet for a 10-week clinical experience. The NSU students do not have to speak Swedish other than simple greetings, as most of the patients are bilingual. Students are mentored in approaches to patient management by the Swedish PTs, who volun- teer to participate with international students. NSU students also socialize and engage with other students, as well as travel through Scandinavia and Europe, during their free time. In reciprocation, NSU has provided outpatient PT clinical internship experiences for 22 Karolinska Institutet physiotherapy students. While the Karo- linska students are in the United States, they intern with Howard Layne, an NSU D.P.T. graduate and coowner of OrthoSport, Inc., in Davie, Florida. English is taught as a second language in Swedish schools, so the students come to the United States with good social-language skills. However, they often need mentoring with English medical terminology and patient/client education. Interestingly, students are often challenged with understanding the U.S. medical reimbursement system. Sweden has a universal health care system, so the idea of patient services depending on the type of health insurance and the patient’s ability to pay for services is a new concept. While at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus, the PT department strives to involve the Karolinska students in as much of campus life as possible. The exchange students have access to campus services, including the library, food services, and the RecPlex. The students’ first introduction to the PT depart- ment includes a meet-and-greet breakfast with faculty members and student class officers. PT program class officers include the Swedish students in social activities throughout their time at NSU. Additionally, Swedish Exchange BY CHERYL HILL, D.P.T., PH.D., PT; SHARI RONE-ADAMS, D.B.A., PT; AND DEBRA STERN, D.P.T., D.B.A., PT NSU AND KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET STUDENTS SWITCH PLACES