Leaders from the MGH Institute of Health Professions traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico to strengthen an emerging partnership with Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Sagrado), building on a faculty and student exchange agreement signed earlier this fall. The visit energized collaborative efforts between the two institutions and advanced plans to create new student experiences, faculty exchanges, and community-centered academic initiatives.

The MGH Institute delegation met with senior academic leaders at Sagrado for a day of presentations, planning sessions, and a campus tour. 

“What quickly became clear in every conversation was a shared commitment to preparing future health professionals who are equipped to serve their communities with empathy, curiosity, and humility,” said Reamer Bushhardt, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs for the MGH Institute. 

“We deeply appreciate the trust the MGH Institute has placed in us to embark on this meaningful collaboration with an institution renowned for its expertise in specialized health disciplines,” said Anuchka Ramos-Ruiz, PhD, Provost & Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. “Our vision is to deliver an innovative educational experience where the world becomes the classroom—fostering a culture of excellence, creating opportunities for our students, and strengthening the growth of our faculty.”

Responding to Students’ Interests and Faculty Momentum
Across both institutions, students and faculty are increasingly seeking opportunities for authentic community engagement, global learning, and interprofessional collaboration. The partnership with Sagrado directly responds to that desire.
The exchange agreement, signed in October 2024, established a foundation for ongoing cooperation in student and faculty exchanges, joint seminars and workshops, service-learning activities, and programming that promotes cultural immersion and appreciation of community health. During this year’s visit, teams from both institutions identified concrete next steps to turn that vision into meaningful opportunities for learners.

“Students in different cultures learning with and from each other is a win-win for all,” said Bianca N. Valdés Fernández, Dean for the School of Health and Sciences at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. “This agreement presents tremendous opportunities for both institutions. We’re looking forward to collaborating with the MGH Institute and designing programs that reflect community needs and student interests.”

Designing Transformative Experiences for Students
A highlight of the visit was planning for a Summer 2026 community health immersion program, which will introduce MGH Institute graduate students to community-based healthcare models across Puerto Rico. Students will explore topics such as climate and health, the social determinants of health, migration-related health challenges, declining birth rates, and culturally grounded communication.

Sagrado’s extensive partnerships with community organizations—including groups working in environmental health, community partnerships, and grassroots advocacy—will serve as anchors for firsthand learning. Students will have opportunities to meet local leaders, participate in service-learning activities, and engage in immersive experiences that deepen their understanding of the island’s history, people, and resilience.

Understanding Health in Context
Puerto Rico provides a distinctive backdrop for exploring how culture, policy, and community leadership influence healthcare delivery. Students gain perspectives that broaden their understanding of what effective, community-based, and person-centered care can look like in different settings.

The MGH Institute brings to the collaboration its strengths in interprofessional education, research, and student support services, ensuring that visiting learners are well-prepared for meaningful engagement and reflection.

Building Momentum for Long-Term Collaboration
The institutions also explored opportunities beyond the 2026 program, including reciprocal student exchanges, collaborative research, joint interprofessional learning experiences, and ongoing faculty engagement. Both teams expressed excitement about building a bidirectional learning community that fosters cross-cultural awareness, community partnership, and innovative approaches to health professions education.

The day concluded with a tour of Sagrado’s campus, reinforcing the strong alignment between the two institutions and the shared belief that culturally rich, community-engaged education prepares students to become compassionate, adaptable, and equity-driven health professionals.

“Our partnership with Sagrado Corazón will provide considerable momentum behind global experiential learning, not to mention the enthusiasm of our students and faculty for deeper engagement with Puerto Rico’s communities,” summed up Bushardt. “The sky is the limit on the long-term impact this partnership will create.”