Students from Jefferson College of Health Professions
Study Abroad in Cuba

View photos from Cuba!  View more photos from Cuba!

Philadelphia, January 2003 - Nine occupational therapy students and four faculty members from Jefferson College of Health Professions of Thomas Jefferson University, traveled to Cuba for one week in March along with the Philadelphia Cardenas Sister City Association, a program developed in May of 2000 to harbinger goodwill between the people of the US and people of Cuba. The City of Cardenas formally invited the City of Philadelphia to become her Sister City. This was significant since never in the history of the two countries had Cuba invited a US city to enter into such a relationship.

Debra Tupe, OTR/L, MPH, MS, a faculty member in the JCHP Occupational Therapy Department, became interested in the healthcare system in Cuba during her studies for her Master of Public Health in International Health from New York Medical College. Ms. Tupe had the opportunity to visit Cuba in 1999 to explore the educational, health, and political systems of the island and understand the role of occupational therapy in healthcare. During her visit, Ms. Tupe made connections with various foundations and agencies in Cuba. Her involvement with the Philadelphia Cardenas Sister City Association served as the entrée into program development in Cuba as Thomas Jefferson University provided the opportunity and support to develop and implement the education exchange program.

The students and faculty split their time in Cuba between the Center for Psychological and Sociological Research in Havana, and the Clinic of Neurology and Rehabilitation for Children in Cardenas-Philadelphia's Sister City. The group visited a psychiatric hospital, school for children with autism, a regional hospital, a senior center, family doctor clinic, and a center for children with physical disabilities. They also met with Federation of Cuban Women and Neighborhood Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. The students refined their observations, interview and teaching skills, explored occupation and healthcare in a society very different than our own, and exchanged intervention approaches.

In preparation for this trip, the students had a structured orientation program in addition to their coursework. The orientation program included group viewing of Buena Vista Social Club, a documentary film to introduce the students to the scenes, sounds, and culture of Cuba, a panel presentation of people who have traveled to Cuba, assigned readings about the history, culture, politics, economics of Cuba and participation in a book club. The students also had class assignments related to their visit; daily seminars while in Cuba and identified a service-learning project to implement during their visit.

In addition to the extra coursework, the students raised money through University fundraising and fundraising activities with the Philadelphia Cardenas Sister City Association. The estimated cost for each student was $1500.

Back