Fund for Teachers | My Passport

Greer Eleazer

Virgil Grissom High School, Huntsville AL

Explore healthcare models in France, Italy, England and Germany to document how their histories and cultures influence culturally-sensitive patient care in an effort to expose health science students to diverse care methods and to prepare them to work successfully in a multicultural environment post-graduation.

Where I've Been

  • Paris, France
  • Hamburg, Germany
  • Rome, Italy
  • London, United Kingdom

My Fellowship in Images

It's 1822. No anesthesia or asepsis. You are lying on a table and rows of men are watching as a surgeon operates on you. This is the oldest operating theatre in London where doctors were trained to operate on women.
The American Hospital in Paris rolls out the red carpet. They have patients and visitors walk the red carpet on the way into the hospital. It is also the only hospital outside of the United States is accredited by the Joint Commission.
The greatest challenge of Paris was learning to use the Metro. It is so much cheaper and faster than using a taxi. I took this picture on my last Metro ride in Paris. I felt so accomplished after conquering the complex routes and finding our way.
I was amazed by the affordability of fresh fruit and veggies in Germany at the Saturday morning Fischmarket. You would bid (auction style) on baskets of fruits and veggies. We paid 15 euros for all the food and the basket.
Ambulances are known for quickness during an emergency in the U.S. This is not the case in Rome. Due to traffic, congestion and narrow roadways, ambulances are not known for arriving quickly. You dial 211 for emergencies.
I am fascinated by the Queen, British Monarchy and Parliment. It is a form a government and a culture full of stories of betrayal, rivalry, rebellion, sacrifice and entitlement.

Igniting Your Personal and Professional Growth

Describe one or two, specific learning experiences from your fellowship. In words, show us this experience and explain why it was powerful.

Whether you say hello, hallo, ciao, salut or bonjour, I learned that no one is completely satisfied with their healthcare delivery system. All of the people we interviewed in European countries believed America to have a superior healthcare system. Though all of the countries we visited have some form of free governmental sponsored health care, most citizens still have to purchase some sort of supplemental insurance or wait for a very long time for health services.

What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn professionally?

I really stepped out of my comfort zone. I visited 4 countries and did not speak the language in three out of four countries. In addition, I had to use foreign currency (both euros and pounds) which was very different from the US dollar. I boarded a plane to Europe armed with Internet research, a backpack, my teammate and a head full of dreams. Europe made me more mindful of my excessiveness. I survived for two weeks with no air conditioning during an abnormal heat wave in Europe.

What were some unplanned or unexpected experiences or outcomes of your fellowship? Or, how did the fellowship you crafted differ from the actual learning experience?

This fellowship took many ups and downs and twists and turns. Some of the museums and hosptials that we had originally planned to visit were shuttered after COVID or extremely limited to visitors. Planning this fellowship was difficult due to COVID restrictions, time differences (when planning from the U.S.) and the lack of updated information available on the Internet. We took a few wrong turns as a result but overall we met our outcomes. We learned a lot as a result of our missteps.

Impacting Your Classroom, School and Community

Outline specific plans you have to implement your fellowship and reach your student goals.

Students will keep a food journal for a week then analyze their nutritional intake using MyPlate.gov and compare their information to the nutritional guidelines with one of 4 countries as assigned (Germany, France, UK, Italy). Students will complete an assignment where they will study the history of medicine through the museum pictures we acquired and use this information to inspire them to create a Medical Innovation for HOSA Competition.

What is one way you can leverage your fellowship to create one authentic learning experience for students? (e.g. hands-on learning, projects, community engagement)

Students will complete a project-based learning assignment comparing and contrasting the universal health care models from each country (Germany, France, Italy and UK). Students will have access to literature that we purchased in each country and our professional interviews to use among other resources. Students will collaborate to make a proposal for a US Universal Health Care Program. Teams will present their proposals to the Senior Government students who will vote on the best proposal.

How, specifically, will your fellowship extend beyond your classroom? (e.g. families, school-at-large, afterschool groups, surrounding community, colleagues, etc.)

We plan to involve parents, the school community and the broader community in student learning through community showcase events where students display their project-based learning experiences such as the proposal for U.S. Health Care Proposal and HOSA competitions (both Alabama and Nationally). We will also submit our work to the network of Alabama Health Science teacher via our private Google share drive.