This course offers an introduction to the most important human diseases, their diagnoses and treatments, and to the clinical practice of physicians at a Danish university hospital. You are taught by several different physicians at different University of Copenhagen hospitals throughout the greater Copenhagen area.
This course does not include shadowing of doctors or physical examination of patients.
Prerequisites
One year each of biology and chemistry at university level.
“The mix of theory and practical skills has kept me interested in the course and I feel like I have learned a lot about the Danish healthcare system through our class trips to several of the hospitals around Copenhagen. In these hospitals, we learned from human cadavers, simulated ALS and patient cases, and learned medical skills from physicians.”
Minh
University of Rochester, Summer Writer
Faculty
Forkan Ali Hussein Al-Fares
Bsc. Med., (Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2026). Nurse assistant at FADL, 2023-present. Assistant at the Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, 2023-2024. Phlebotomist summer 2024. Research assistant, Hvidovre Hospital, 2024-2025. Clinical Assistant at a general practice, 2024-2025. Secretary at a rheumatology clinic, 2026-present. Data entry assistant, Phase I Unit, Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, 2026–present. With DIS since 2026.
Isabel Engel
M.D. (University of Copenhagen, 2017). Physician in a private online menopause clinic (2025–present) with focus on women’s health, lifestyle medicine, and menopause care. Previous experience as medical consultant in a private holistic and longevity-focused healthcare clinic. Resident in General Practice at clinics in Zealand, with previous experience in Emergency Medicine and Geriatrics at Holbæk, Næstved, and Herlev Hospital. Former research assistant at the Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology. Teaching both Clinical Skills and Emergency Medicine simulations at CAMES, and previous course assistant – with DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia since 2016.
Filip Søskov Davidovski
M.D. (University of Copenhagen, 2022). PhD student at the Department of Cardiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital (2022-present). MPH student at Imperial College London (2023-present). Awarded Master’s Thesis of the Year, University of Copenhagen (2021). Erasmus Student at University of Vienna, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology (2020). Teaching Clinical Skills Session, Emergency Medicine, and Communication Course at DIS. Previous experience in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine with clerkships at Soochow University (China) and Dronning Ingrid Hospital Nuuk (Greenland). Student-athlete and Division 1 Soccer in USA (2016). Previous Course Assistant for Human Health & Disease. With DIS since 2017.
Elisa Skovgaard Jensen
PhD, Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Department at Nordsjællands Hospital, Hillerød (2026). M.D. (University of Copenhagen, 2012). DIS Clinical Instructor for Human Health & Disease. With DIS since 2017.
Andrea Pohly Thorn
M.D. (University of Copenhagen, 2016).
Resident in Orthopedic surgery, Herlev/Gentofte Hospital (2025-), M.D Department of Orthopedic Surgery Holbæk Sygehus (2025)
PhD at the Department of Orthopedic surgery, Rigshospitalet (2021-2025). M.D Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Herlev/Gentofte Hospital (2019-2021). M.D Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nordsjællands Hospital (2017-2019). M.D General medicine at Vik legekontor, Vik municipality, Norway (2017). Intern, Fælles Akut Afdeling, Aarhus Universitet Hospital, and general medicine at Ebeltoft Lægehus (2016-2017). Course Assistant with DIS (2011-2015). With DIS since 2011.
Josephine Nolte
M.D. from University of Copenhagen (2020). Currently first year resident at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital. Previous experience in General practice and Internal Medicine at Gentofte Hospital. Previous research in Immunology. Born in Denmark, raised in both DK and the United States. Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (2012). Previous Course Assistant for Human Health and Disease. With DIS since 2017.
Shan Elahi Goandal
Received a Bachelor in medicine and is starting Candidate in medicine at Copenhagen University since 2020. Current and previous roles are student helper at transcultural psychiatry 2022-present, former research assistant at Danish Headache center 2022-2023, and research assistant at Rigshospitalet Heart center 2023-present.
Long study tour
About this tour
This Study Tour in Norway will introduce you to the differences between medical practices in Oslo, the urban capital city, and Arendal, a rural municipality on the southern coast. You will visit several sites and speak with providers and recipients of local healthcare to gain a comprehensive understanding of healthcare in Norway and the challenges faced by providers and patients in these two locations.
By meeting medical professionals, visiting hospitals and clinics, and talking with locals, you will observe the differences in healthcare access, gaining firsthand insight into Norway’s medical landscape. Key issues such as demographics, economic factors, healthcare promotion, mental health, technology allocation, funding, resource management, health system organization, and patient-doctor relationships will be examined. By the end of the tour, you will have a deeper understanding of the strengths and challenges of the Norwegian healthcare system from both urban and rural perspectives.
Throughout the tour, Oslo and Arendal will serve as immersive classrooms, highlighting contrasts in healthcare systems, cultural practices, and community dynamics. Engaging with the region’s medical infrastructure and professionals will provide invaluable insights into healthcare delivery in diverse settings. Interacting with residents will enhance your understanding of socio-cultural factors influencing health behaviors and outcomes. These experiences will enable you to make well-informed comparisons with healthcare systems in Norway, Denmark, and the United States.
Learning outcomes
Compare and contrast medical practice in urban Oslo and rural Arendal
Compare and contrast medical systems in Norway, Denmark, and the U.S. to better understand the challenges facing healthcare providers in each country
Observe examples of clinical practice and research with clinical relevance
Describe and experience medical practice in a social, historical, and scientific context
Interact with locals to get a better understanding of how they feel about their healthcare system
Possible activities
Tour an Oslo hospital department and hear from doctors working there
Discuss various aspects of the Norwegian healthcare system with doctors at hospitals and family physician clinics
Engage in discussions with healthcare providers at specialist departments in one of Oslo’s public hospitals and also with an Arendal family physician
Interview locals about their experiences with their health systems in their respective region of Norway
About this tour
This Study Tour to Croatia’s Dalmatia region will introduce you to the differences between medical practices on the urban mainland in Dubrovnik and on rural Korčula island. You will engage in a diverse array of visits, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of healthcare in Croatia and the challenges faced by medical providers and the patient population in this region.
By meeting with medical professionals, visiting hospitals and clinics, and conversing with locals, you will observe the differences in access to healthcare in these distinct locations, gaining firsthand insight into Croatia’s medical landscape. You will examine key issues facing healthcare today, including demographic and economic factors, healthcare promotion and infection control, allocation of technology, funding, and resources, organization and entry into the health system, and patient-doctor relationships. By the end of the Study Tour, you will have a deeper understanding of the strengths and challenges of the not only the Croatian healthcare system but also the differences in caring for patients in urban versus rural settings.
Throughout the tour, Croatia’s Dalmatia region will serve as an immersive classroom, providing you with a distinctive perspective on its healthcare system, cultural practices, and local community dynamics. By engaging directly with the region’s medical infrastructure and professionals, you will gain invaluable insights into the operational and logistical aspects of healthcare delivery in both urban and rural settings. Additionally, interacting with local residents will deepen your understanding of the socio-cultural factors that influence health behaviors and outcomes in this region. These comprehensive experiences will allow you to make well-informed comparisons with the healthcare systems and practices you have encountered in Denmark and the United States.
Learning outcomes
Compare medical practices in urban Dubrovnik and rural Korčula
Compare healthcare systems in Croatia, Denmark, and the U.S. to understand the challenges faced by providers
Observe clinical practice and research with clinical relevance
Experience medical practice in social, historical, and scientific contexts
Interact with locals to understand their perspectives on the healthcare system
Possible activities
Tour local healthcare facilities, such as General Hospital Dubrovnik or the Health Center of Korčula
Discuss the Croatian healthcare system with doctors at General Hospital Dubrovnik and surrounding clinics
Interview locals about their healthcare experiences in different regions of Croatia
Looking for some advice? We’ll support you every step of the way.
