VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO AM) – The University of South Dakota will offer a new program that allows students to study health service administration in Cuba while also learning about the people, art and culture of America’s island neighbor.
The first group of 15 students and their professor will visit Cuba during winter break, visiting hospitals and the university medical clinic, and observing community projects.
“We chose Cuba because it is known around the world for its national health system where all residents have access to cost-effective health care, and because it is a leader in providing health care for nearly a hundred developing countries,” said Professor Carole South-Winter, who teaches health care administration in the USD Beacom School of Business.
“Cuba also has a world-renowned medical training program, making it an ideal location for USD students to compare and examine different health care systems and means of delivery,” she said.
The students will enroll in a course entitled Health Services Administration Abroad, which will cover the formation and operation of public health policies. South-Winter points out that Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate than that of the United States and also has a life expectancy of 78 years, one of the best on the American continent.