PBSC nursing and health science students gain global insights during study abroad trip to Berlin

Ten Palm Beach State College students studying nursing, health management, and neuroscience expanded their educational horizons during a study abroad trip to Berlin, Germany, from March 7–15. The international experience offered hands-on exposure to global health systems, cutting-edge technology, and cultural exchange.

The participants were Dulce Osorto, Anne Jacques, Franchette Mila, Sara Mooney, Lenscika Auguste, Bryanth Orellana, Yolanda McCallum, Bergerette Alteme, Tara Monfort, and Gisela Duran.

The Study Abroad program was developed by Professor Julieta Diaz, nursing faculty lead, and co-leader Dr. Petrina Beugre, in collaboration with PBSC’s Program Director of Education Abroad Delicia Alarcon and the vendor World Strides.

Each student received Foundation Scholarships totaling $5,000 to help make the trip possible. PBSC alumna Yolanda McCallum, who is currently pursuing a bachelor's in Neuroscience at ASU online, also earned a prestigious $2,500 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a program supported by the U.S. Department of State to encourage American college students to study or intern abroad and develop skills that enhance national security and economic competitiveness.

As part of PBSC’s Globalization in Nursing program, the students explored how digital innovation is transforming healthcare delivery throughout Germany. Highlights included a campus visit to Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, where they met with Professor Dr. Nils Lahmann to discuss “Digitalization in Nursing: Current Developments and Future Perspectives.” In Charité’s AI Lab, they experienced a guided exploration of emerging health technologies alongside Lahmann’s research team.

“This educational journey is part of our study abroad on nursing globalization which empowered our students to be global leaders,” said Diaz. “Learning took place beyond classrooms and created lifelong memories. It is also a personal milestone, and we have built international connections and collaborations with one of the leading institutions in Europe.”

Students also immersed themselves in Berlin’s local communities through a Local Market Immersion centered in the Kollwitzplatz neighborhood of Prenzlauer Berg. This experiential activity placed students directly within a neighborhood ecosystem, encouraging them to explore the microeconomics of urban healthcare—from pharmacies and local wellness campaigns to organic markets and public health messaging—while seeing firsthand how Berliners approach everyday health and well-being.

The itinerary also featured the Berlin Journey, a thematic exploration connecting nursing to history, research, and culture across multiple venues. Students collaborated with researchers conducting groundbreaking work in geriatrics and gained insight into how nursing practices transcend borders and cultural contexts. 

A German Healthcare 101 overview provided perspective on structural differences between healthcare systems, funding models, patient care approaches, and the evolving role of nurses in Germany.

Cultural and educational visits offered additional depth. At the Berlin Museum of Medical History—located within the historic Charité Campus—students journeyed through centuries of medical advancement, examining artifacts and interactive exhibits that traced medicine’s evolution from early surgeries to modern treatments. The group also toured the Futurium, Berlin’s “house of futures,” which invited them to consider how science, technology, and sustainability shape the possibilities of tomorrow through imaginative, hands-on exhibits.

Students gained a powerful sense of history at the Berlin Wall Memorial, where they reflected on the city’s period of division and resilience, and at the Jewish Museum Berlin, whose guided exhibits explore Jewish life from historical and contemporary perspectives. On March 13, the group ventured outside the capital for a day trip to Potsdam and Sanssouci Palace, exploring royal gardens, peaceful lakes, and the 18th-century architecture that defines the region’s cultural heritage.

The trip concluded with a Berlin cooking class at South Kitchen—a lively culinary workshop where students prepared traditional dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients while learning how food and health intersect in everyday German life.

“Berlin taught me more than I expected—not just academically, but personally,” said nursing major Lenscika Auguste. “Navigating a new country helped me grow in confidence and independence, while also showing me how interconnected healthcare and culture truly are.”

Alarcon emphasized the transformative value of these experiences for PBSC students. “Study Abroad programs like this one are life-changing,” she said. “Our students return home with a greater awareness of global health practices, a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity, and new perspectives that strengthen their careers and communities.”

For more information on PBSC’s study abroad programs, click here.