Bridging Borders: PLU nursing students gain global health experience in Oaxaca
By Britt Board
Assistant Director of Communications
“I am forever changed by the people of Oaxaca, Mexico. Through direct community engagement, I learned how to meet people where they are and build trusting and meaningful rapport despite language barriers.” – Claire Hindman ’26, PLU Nursing Student
What happens when classroom learning meets real-world experience? For a group of Pacific Lutheran University nursing students, the answer came in the form of a personally and professionally meaningful journey to Oaxaca, Mexico.
The Social Determinants of Health in Oaxaca study away program, led by Professor Carrie Ann Matyac, introduces students to the cultural, economic, and geographical factors influencing healthcare access in Mexico – an experience that will shape their futures as healthcare providers.
This annual program is connected to PLU’s nursing curriculum, allowing students to apply their clinical knowledge in a global setting. By engaging with diverse healthcare practices and addressing health disparities firsthand, students expand their understanding of patient care beyond the classroom and traditional hospital settings.
“For students, the most significant benefit is the chance to explore and gain a deeper appreciation for another culture, one close to our home,” said Matyac. “I hope they walk away from this experience seeing healthcare through a new lens – one that helps guide their future personal and professional decisions.”
This unique program combines academic exploration with community engagement. This January, students explored cultural offerings in Mexico and conducted health screenings and educational encounters in schools, orphanages, and indigenous communities.
For BSN student Claire Hindman ’26, the program was an opportunity to step outside of her comfort zone while strengthening her clinical skills and patient care. “One of the biggest takeaways was seeing firsthand how economic struggles, geographic isolation, and cultural influences limit access to healthcare and directly impact families,” Hindman shared.
Collaboration with community
The program was made possible through key partnerships with local healthcare professionals and community leaders, including Dr. Vicente Silva in Soledad Peras, Yolanda Camacho in Tututepec, and the municipal council in Teotitlán del Valle, all of whom helped organize health fairs and cultural exchanges.
Matyac credits Franky Zapien, a local educator and guide, for playing an instrumental role in coordinating these connections and ensuring a meaningful experience for both students and the communities they served. She also noted that their participation could not have happened without the help of their translators: Armando Robles Caballero, Manuel Palacios Altamirano, and Elisa Zapien.
Matyac emphasized that while students provided essential health screenings, the learning was mutual. “I think it’s vital to recognize that our students gained far more than they gave. The kindness and generosity of the Oaxacan people never ceases to amaze me. They welcome us into their lives and their homes without hesitation.”
Creating a pipeline of caring healthcare professionals
For Hindman, the experience was transformative. “Because of this study away program, I will graduate with a stronger understanding of the biological, social, and political factors that impact community healthcare access,” Hindman said. “This experience will forever shape how I advocate, connect, and care for my patients.”
Students traveled thousands of miles from campus and brought back something invaluable – a deeper understanding of the world and their place in it as future healthcare providers. “The program reflects PLU’s culture of service and care,” notes Matyac. With enthusiastic invitations to return to Oaxaca next year, the impact of this experience will continue to grow, both for the students and the communities they serve.