Brazilian students study public health, schools during visit to Sweet Home
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

As part of the University at Buffalo Study Abroad Program, several students from Universidade Presidente Antônio Carlos in Minas Gerais, Brazil, took time from their two-week stay in Buffalo to hear presentations on public health in the public school system at Sweet Home Middle School.

The exchange exists for students from UNIPAC and UB who are studying aspects of public health, including physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy, social work and psychology. For a period of two or three weeks, students spend time learning about the differences in health care and its approach to the public.

"It's a combination of visiting health-care facilities and taking a cultural experience," said Mary Matteliano, clinical assistant professor at UB and the program's co-organizer. "It started with the occupational therapy program and expanded to rehabilitation science."

What the students get out of the experience is not only the chance to see another country but also to get a better understanding of different health-care systems around the world.

Eleven students and professors from UNIPAC were guests at Sweet Home Middle School for several presentations on the special education program, physical and occupational therapy and nursing professions and how they all function within the Sweet Home School district.

UNIPAC's director of international relations services, Giovanni Peres, accompanied the students and teachers on their trip to Buffalo and acted as their interpreter.

"It helps us to understand U.S. policy and public health," he said of the experience for the students. "We see what the U.S. is doing and compare it with our policies."

Though the language barrier proved to be an obstacle, the students posed questions on programs such as No Child Left Behind and funding for other federally mandated programs.

One student asked the Sweet Home director of student services, who gave the presentation on special education and adapting to children with special needs, about bullying in the schools when it involves children with special needs.

"I thought that was really interesting," said Paul Wietig, core curriculum coordinator at UB. "It just goes to show that it's an international issue."

"There is a high level of everything" said Peres in regard to the Sweet Home School District. "Your OT work, your PT work - you do a very nice job and set a high standard."

Peres, who has traveled to 26 countries, noted that Sweet Home ranks very high in the school systems he has observed.

"The policies here that were introduced are very important."

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com