Seven students from the MGH Institute of Health Professions traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico this spring as part of a faculty-led study travel experience focused on community health, cultural immersion, environmental justice, and interprofessional learning. The program deepened the ongoing partnership between the MGH Institute and Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Sagrado) while giving students the opportunity to engage with community organizations in the El Caño Martín Peña area and interact with Sagrado faculty.

“The MGH Institute of Health Professions’ partnership with Sagrado is one that is truly mission focused across our two academic institutions,” said Dr. Regina Doherty, dean for interprofessional education and practice and associate provost for faculty affairs. “Our collective commitments to collaborative learning, health equity, community engagement, and developing compassionate professionals in health sciences served as guideposts for this new interprofessional travel study elective” 

Developed in collaboration with the Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice, the trip was led by Dr. Caitlin Fitzgerald from the Department of Physical Therapy and Dr. Kathryn Sabo from the School of Nursing. The study travel experience reflects the Institute’s continued commitment to global engagement, interprofessional education, and preparing healthcare professionals to lead with cultural humility, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the communities they serve.

MGH Institute students learned about the history of the El Caño Martin Peña community and the lives of Santurce residents through lectures, community visits, reflection sessions, and cultural activities designed to connect social determinants of health and the lived community experiences of residents with public health and healthcare. 

One major component of the experience was a visit to the G-8, the El Caño Museo, and a tour of the El Caño Martín Peña communities, where students learned from community leaders about ongoing environmental and public health challenges as well as grassroots community-led advocacy efforts. 

“The community leaders painted a meaningful picture for the students of the longstanding environmental issues faced by residents of the eight communities adjacent to the Caño Martín Peña over the past century,” explained Dr. Caitlin Fitzgerald, associate director of clinical education and distinguished teaching assistant professor, physical therapy. “They also showed students how communities can be powerful advocates for their culture, homes, and well-being — effecting positive change.”

In addition to academic programming, the trip incorporated opportunities for cultural immersion and relationship-building. Students participated in activities including a mofongo cooking class, a Santurce street art walking tour, a salsa class, and visits to museums in nearby Caguas.

“While in San Juan, students were immersed in Puerto Rican culture and daily life, offering a meaningful lens into health within the context of community,” said Dr. Kathryn Sabo, director of the Ruth Sleeper Nursing Center for Clinical Education and Wellness and associate nursing professor. “Through meaningful engagement, reflection, and shared experiences, students moved beyond traditional learning environments to deepen their cultural humility and broaden their understanding of health, resilience, and pride in a resource-limited community. The experience fostered growth, equipping them to become more thoughtful, responsive, and culturally attuned professionals.”

The group also visited Casa Dominicana, where students engaged with local leaders and reflected on the role of culture, identity, and community in shaping health outcomes and access to care. These experiences had an impact on all the students.

“A specific meaningful experience to me throughout this course was the moment when the tour guide at Casa Dominicana revealed himself as the artist of the painting in the lobby,” recounted Anna Mikhael, DPT ’28. “I typically am not someone who resonates with art, but through that experience, I was moved. When I reflect, I am aware of my thoughts, and that’s my primary way of processing. However, this experience made me feel rather than think. It truly felt like such a raw, vulnerable, and beautiful moment, and it is something I will remember.”

Structured reflection sessions were integrated throughout the trip, encouraging students to connect their experiences in Puerto Rico with their future roles as healthcare professionals.

Students left with a better understanding of how health, healthcare, community advocacy, environment, and culture intersect.

"This experience reinforced my belief that healthcare is not just about treating a diagnosis — it is about understanding the people, communities, and systems that shape health,” said Olivia Menyo, MS-SLP ’26. “Hearing directly from community members in Puerto Rico challenged me to think beyond my own perspective and reminded me that my role as a future healthcare professional is not to make assumptions, but to listen, learn, and work collaboratively with patients and communities to establish trust and provide care that is culturally responsive, practical, and meaningful.”