Spend your spring break immersed in one of the world's most innovative healthcare systems. This nine-day program takes you to San José, Costa Rica, where you'll study at Universidad Hispanoamericana's prestigious School of Health Sciences—a private institution renowned for its practical, hands-on approach to learning. You'll engage in over 30 hours of lectures, workshops, hospital visits, and community rotations that showcase how Costa Rica transformed itself from a nation dependent on foreign aid to a country with the #1 healthcare system in Latin America, consistently ranking in the UN's top 20 globally.

Your coursework covers critical topics including public vs. private healthcare systems, community health programs, Costa Rica's medical education approach, tropical medicine, and the fascinating Blue Zone phenomenon that contributes to Costa Ricans' exceptional longevity. Rather than staying confined to a classroom, you'll tour state-of-the-art simulation hospitals, visit both public and private facilities, participate in health fairs alongside UH students, and complete a practical community rotation at an elderly daycare center. You'll even experience cutting-edge virtual and augmented reality technology used in modern healthcare training.

Beyond academics, you'll explore San José's vibrant culture with city tours, orientation activities, and cultural excursions organized by your AIFS Abroad Program Director. After an intensive week of learning, you'll escape to Arenal for a well-deserved 24-hour retreat featuring relaxation in natural hot springs and an exhilarating zip-lining adventure through Costa Rica's rainforest canopy. Your program director, Karla Carballo, brings personal study abroad experience and training in psychology to support you throughout your journey, ensuring you navigate both the academic and personal growth aspects of international education.

The program is open to first-year through senior undergraduates and non-students with a minimum 2.5 GPA. You'll earn up to 2 semester credits, stay in centrally-located group hotels with daily breakfast, and benefit from AIFS Abroad's comprehensive support: 24/7 emergency assistance, health insurance, pre-departure resources, orientation, cultural activities, and access to professional development tools like the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment. Optional round-trip flights from 25 U.S. cities are available, making logistics seamless. This is more than a spring break getaway—it's an opportunity to understand global healthcare innovation, build cross-cultural competence, and return home with insights that will shape your career in health sciences, nursing, or public health.