From July 22 to August 24, Fernanda Frison Lopes, a medical student from Wheaton College, USA, completed an internship at the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of Unicamp. She worked at Gastrocentro, under the guidance of Professor Raquel Franco Leal from the Surgery Department. She shared her thoughts on the similarities and differences between the Brazilian and American healthcare systems, among other impressions:

“During my time at SMS, I learned alongside doctors and researchers at Gastrocentro. I observed a multi-professional team of psychologists, nutritionists, biologists, residents, nurses, and doctors working together to improve the quality of life for their patients. Sharing knowledge between different medical specialties and health professions is crucial for providing treatment that ensures the best outcomes for patients.

Many patients come from various states and towns, which is often only possible due to the support provided by the government-funded healthcare system. This approach to healthcare is something I do not see in the United States. Witnessing patients, who otherwise would not have the means to pay for surgeries or consultations with other professionals and specialists, receive all these services at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Clinic was heartwarming. Expensive medications are only made available to patients because of this remarkable public healthcare system.

The IBD Laboratory, where I interned during my time at Unicamp, provided a life-changing experience. The research team not only drives groundbreaking discoveries in nutrition, genetics, inflammation, and other areas, but also fosters a more humane approach to patient care. Here, research and patient treatment go hand in hand, with research outcomes guiding doctors' decisions on specific cases. This is the kind of integrated medical researcher I aspire to become one day.”