The year 2026 marks a major milestone: a decade of partnership between the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Universidad Anáhuac Veracruz (UAV) in Mexico. To celebrate this ongoing collaboration, four UAV students traveled to Omaha this past July to participate in the International Academic Observership in Family Medicine—the second cohort hosted under this program.
The one-month immersion, supported by a generous donation from a private donor, was co-administered by UNMC’s Department of Family Medicine and the Office of Global Engagement. The program provides students with first-hand experience in the U.S. healthcare system, American culture, and the unique healthcare needs of Omaha’s Latinx community.
For the visiting scholars, the program offers both clinical insight and personal transformation.
“The most important lesson I learned was how much the way you treat your patients matters,” said Veronica Dinora Duarte Ruiz, a visiting UAV student. “No matter how much medical knowledge you have, helping your patients understand their condition and making them feel supported is just as essential. Throughout the program, many physicians asked what specialty I wanted to pursue. I may not know exactly what kind of specialist I want to become yet, but this experience helped me realize what kind of doctor and person I want to be for my patients.”
During their rotation, students had the opportunity to observe advanced medical operations and engaged in cultural exchange across the Omaha community.
“Participating in the observership was a dream come true,” said fellow UAV student Dulce María Sangabriel Galindo. “All the departments we rotated through were incredibly welcoming. We saw everything from a fully equipped medical helicopter to state-of-the-art surgical technology. Beyond the clinical experience, connecting with people from different backgrounds was deeply enriching.”
Before returning to Mexico, the students developed capstone projects detailing key insights and comparative health perspectives to share with their peers and faculty back home.
Armando De Alba, MD, PhD, associate professor in the UNMC Department of Family Medicine and lead organizer for this year’s program, noted that students showed strong interest in comparing the U.S. and Mexican health care systems. “Students gain more than clinical exposure when they experience another health system. They learn to question assumptions, compare approaches to care and see medicine through a broader lens, while thinking more deeply about the physicians they want to become.”
UNMC leadership praised the cohort’s impact on campus and highlighted the enduring strength of the international partnership.
“Our faculty and clinical teams were deeply impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm this cohort brought,” said Jeff Harrison, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Family Medicine. “Immersing these students in our healthcare environment and community-centered care allowed for a rich exchange of ideas that benefited our department just as much as it did the visiting scholars.”
Jane Meza, PhD, associate vice chancellor for global engagement, agreed that the program reflects the growing depth of UNMC’s international ties.
“Welcoming a second cohort of UAV students underscores the strength of our decade-long partnership,” Dr. Meza said. “This collaboration continues to open new doors across campus, and we are delighted these four students could join us for this year’s International Academic Observership.”