Care, Capitalism, and Croissants: Interprofessional Students Take on Business of Healthcare in Paris
Presenter(s)
Phoebe Enebechi, Selma Dzamalija, Nicole Sharp, Beth Komay
Abstract
The Business of Healthcare in Paris is a faculty-led study-away program that unites business, nursing, and other healthcare students in an immersive experience of global healthcare systems. The primary design of this course is around interprofessional learning that integrates coursework and cultural experiences from within the Midwest United States (US) and France. Students begin the course by visiting healthcare facilities and small alternative-therapy businesses in the US, gaining initial exposure to diverse care environments. They then travel to Paris and surrounding areas to explore comparable sites, including hospitals, an art therapy center, a residential rehabilitation facility, and small businesses providing alternative healthcare services. Through these parallel site visits, along with collaborative learning and structured reflection, students examine how healthcare delivery, policy, economics, and entrepreneurship intersect across global contexts. Given the substantial differences between the US and France in social structures, economic priorities, healthcare systems, cultural views of health, and payer models, a structured comparison of the two systems encourages critical analysis and enhances student learning. Organized coursework experiences help students think outside of their discipline of study; illustrating how operating in silos can be a barrier. Arming students with this knowledge prepares them to enter their respective fields with a global perspective on how business and healthcare function together and influence one another. Coursework highlights the shared global drivers of health: infrastructure, historical, cultural, environmental, nutrition, exercise, wellness, innovation, small business, and government. Survey results from participating students show strong gains in cultural awareness, confidence navigating unfamiliar healthcare environments, and appreciation for interprofessional teamwork. Some described the experience as “eye-opening” and “transformative,” particularly in understanding how business, policy, and clinical care intersect across systems. Students shared that traveling together, engaging in dialogue about diverse perspectives from various healthcare workers from the US and France, and completing collaborative assignments, such as social media posts and portfolio reflections, helped them understand how business, clinical practice, and policy intersect in real-world healthcare settings. Experiencing the French healthcare system firsthand allowed students to recognize both strengths and challenges within each model of care. By comparing France's universal coverage structure with the US insurance-based system, students gained deeper understanding of cost control, access, preventive care, and government oversight. Beyond academic outcomes, many students described the experience as personally enriching. They characterized it as transformative, citing increased independence, adaptability, enhanced communication skills, and a deeper respect for diverse perspectives in healthcare leadership. Business students developed a stronger understanding of patient-centered practices and ethical considerations in healthcare management, while nursing and healthcare students gained insight into the operational and financial dimensions of healthcare delivery. By centering student voice and reflective comparison, this program fosters global awareness, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership readiness, preparing students to navigate complex healthcare systems across clinical and administrative settings. Through international learning and cross disciplinary dialogue, this faculty led study away experience serves as a catalyst for developing globally minded healthcare and business professionals equipped to work in an increasingly interconnected world, offering meaningful preparation for future careers across diverse areas.
College
College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Department
Nursing
Campus
Winona
First Advisor/Mentor
Amy Reitmaier
Location
Kryzsko Great River Ballroom, Winona, Minnesota; United States
Start Date
4-23-2026 10:00 AM
End Date
4-23-2026 11:00 AM
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Format of Presentation or Performance
In-Person
Session
1b=10am-11am
Poster Number
42
Care, Capitalism, and Croissants: Interprofessional Students Take on Business of Healthcare in Paris
Kryzsko Great River Ballroom, Winona, Minnesota; United States
The Business of Healthcare in Paris is a faculty-led study-away program that unites business, nursing, and other healthcare students in an immersive experience of global healthcare systems. The primary design of this course is around interprofessional learning that integrates coursework and cultural experiences from within the Midwest United States (US) and France. Students begin the course by visiting healthcare facilities and small alternative-therapy businesses in the US, gaining initial exposure to diverse care environments. They then travel to Paris and surrounding areas to explore comparable sites, including hospitals, an art therapy center, a residential rehabilitation facility, and small businesses providing alternative healthcare services. Through these parallel site visits, along with collaborative learning and structured reflection, students examine how healthcare delivery, policy, economics, and entrepreneurship intersect across global contexts. Given the substantial differences between the US and France in social structures, economic priorities, healthcare systems, cultural views of health, and payer models, a structured comparison of the two systems encourages critical analysis and enhances student learning. Organized coursework experiences help students think outside of their discipline of study; illustrating how operating in silos can be a barrier. Arming students with this knowledge prepares them to enter their respective fields with a global perspective on how business and healthcare function together and influence one another. Coursework highlights the shared global drivers of health: infrastructure, historical, cultural, environmental, nutrition, exercise, wellness, innovation, small business, and government. Survey results from participating students show strong gains in cultural awareness, confidence navigating unfamiliar healthcare environments, and appreciation for interprofessional teamwork. Some described the experience as “eye-opening” and “transformative,” particularly in understanding how business, policy, and clinical care intersect across systems. Students shared that traveling together, engaging in dialogue about diverse perspectives from various healthcare workers from the US and France, and completing collaborative assignments, such as social media posts and portfolio reflections, helped them understand how business, clinical practice, and policy intersect in real-world healthcare settings. Experiencing the French healthcare system firsthand allowed students to recognize both strengths and challenges within each model of care. By comparing France's universal coverage structure with the US insurance-based system, students gained deeper understanding of cost control, access, preventive care, and government oversight. Beyond academic outcomes, many students described the experience as personally enriching. They characterized it as transformative, citing increased independence, adaptability, enhanced communication skills, and a deeper respect for diverse perspectives in healthcare leadership. Business students developed a stronger understanding of patient-centered practices and ethical considerations in healthcare management, while nursing and healthcare students gained insight into the operational and financial dimensions of healthcare delivery. By centering student voice and reflective comparison, this program fosters global awareness, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership readiness, preparing students to navigate complex healthcare systems across clinical and administrative settings. Through international learning and cross disciplinary dialogue, this faculty led study away experience serves as a catalyst for developing globally minded healthcare and business professionals equipped to work in an increasingly interconnected world, offering meaningful preparation for future careers across diverse areas.
Comments
Should there be Selma Dzamalija a presenter? Listed in poster index = Enebechi, Chisom/Phoebe S; Komay, Beth A; Sharp, Nicole A
Selma Dzamalija, is not listed in the poster index which = presenter. Are they presenting?