During the summer of 2025, siblings Eben and Esther Samuel, both M1s, joined 14 other UNMC medical students for the university’s inaugural Scott Scholars Global Immersion Program in Xalapa, Mexico.
Through a strategic partnership between the UNMC Office of Global Engagement and the Universidad Anáhuac, Veracruz, the Scott Scholars Program successfully launched a new student experience.
As members of this program the Samuels spent their summer bridging the gap between classroom theory and international clinical experience.
The group partnered with DIF Xalapa (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia), a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and social welfare of local families. For the 14 students involved, the trip was a deep dive into a universal healthcare system, blending clinical observation with profound cultural immersion.
Duality of Care
For the Samuel siblings, the academic heartbeat of the trip was understanding the “duality” of the Mexican system. “The government funds DIF, whose services are free to the public, but wait times are long and resources are limited,” Esther explained. “On the other hand, the private sector is well-staffed but comes at a hefty price.”
Eben noted that this exposure was central to the Scott Scholars’ mission: to better understand patient populations they will soon encounter in the U.S. and to identify features from global systems that could be integrated at home. A typical day involved traveling to diverse sites to see this mission in action:
- Mobility Restoration: Visiting prosthetics clinics to see how devices are custom-fitted to restore patient independence.
- Specialized Rehab: Observing movement-based therapy at a Parkinson’s rehabilitation clinic.
- Holistic Support: Engaging with child development programs and senior centers that empower the elderly to advocate for their rights.
Innovative Outreach
The Scott Scholars were particularly moved by the proactive nature of Mexican healthcare. Every Friday, DIF hosts community outreach events in the Xalapa city center. “Providers set up stations to provide free consultations in dental, vision, and mental health,” Esther said. “We assisted with checking vitals and supporting these specialty services.”
Eben found inspiration in the system’s reach into rural areas. “Physicians go door-to-door to ensure their rural patients have adequate coverage,” he shared. “I found this to be a very inspiring part of their system that I hope can be adapted to fit our system in the United States.”
The “Heart Strings” of Medicine
While the clinical training was rigorous, the emotional impact was profound. For Esther, the most meaningful moment occurred during a visit to a home for teenage girls who had been removed from unsafe environments.
“The girls’ home was my favorite part,” Esther revealed. “The director described the stories of the girls we were about to meet—it tugged on my heartstrings. I learned the value of preventative medicine and the fierce advocacy of providers who truly make the most of what they have.”
Eben echoed this sentiment, finding his highlight in the people themselves. “The locals were incredibly gracious hosts, ready to involve us in their daily lives,” he said. “Despite language barriers, they found every opportunity to teach us more.”
A Lasting Impression
As the Samuel siblings return to their M1 studies at UNMC, they bring back a global perspective defined by a consistent mantra they heard from DIF staff: “We don’t have much, but we do very well with what we do have.” This resilience and dedication to patient advocacy will undoubtedly shape their future careers as physicians.
Advice for the Global Scholar
Esther’s experience serves as a motivation for other medical students considering global learning trips.
“I think it’s important for us as future healthcare professionals to understand our patients and their culture better. While you might not be able to go to the exact place that your patients are from, any experience in a culture that is not your own forces you to get a little uncomfortable. As a result, you might get a little taste of what your patients might be feeling when they come to see you.”
Ongoing Collaboration
In an expansion of our partnership with Universidad Anáhuac Veracruz (UAV), UNMC hosted four students for a month-long International Academic Observership in Family Medicine the summer of 2025. This successful exchange continues into its next phase, with a second cohort of UAV students scheduled to arrive at UNMC in the summer of 2026.