"Global health has always been one of my biggest passions."
That is how a conversation with Manushree Ganta began when discussing her aspirations in medicine. Inspired by her parents, who immigrated from India, and shaped by her education at Michigan State University's Lyman Briggs College, Ganta has developed a passion for improving access to equitable health care around the world. Alongside earning her bachelor's degree in human biology, she has dedicated countless hours to research, clinical care and volunteer service, including at the Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic in Pontiac, Michigan, where she helps provide care to underserved populations.
"I'm passionate about making sure everyone has equitable access to quality health care, regardless of where they live," Ganta said.
Although her experiences in research, volunteering, and clinical medicine had already strengthened her commitment to global health, Ganta wanted to understand what health care looked like beyond the United States.
That opportunity came through MSU Global Health Studies' pre-clinical observation program in Spain. The weeklong experience, hosted in collaboration with physicians at Hospital Universitari Dr. Josep Trueta in Girona, allows students to observe a wide range of medical specialties while learning about Spain's health care system and culture. For Ganta, it combined two lifelong goals: experiencing global medicine firsthand and visiting a country she had always dreamed of seeing.
"I'd always wanted to visit Spain, but what really drew me to the program was the opportunity to experience health care in another country and learn from physicians working in a completely different health care system," she said.
Observing Medicine Across Borders
From the moment Ganta and her cohort arrived in Spain, they were immersed in a new clinical environment. Each day, they traveled from Barcelona to Girona, rotating through hospital departments and observing physicians as they cared for patients, performed surgeries and collaborated across specialties.
For Ganta, the experience transformed medicine from something she had studied into something she could envision herself practicing.
"Being able to observe surgeries every day was incredible because, as an undergraduate, I got to see firsthand what my future in medicine could look like," she said. "One surgery I'll never forget was a total hip replacement. Watching the precision, teamwork, and technical skill involved gave me a whole new appreciation for surgery."
Although Ganta entered the program with a strong interest in pediatrics, her time in the operating room introduced her to possibilities she had not previously considered.
"I went into the program expecting pediatrics to be my clear path, but surgery ended up being the specialty that surprised me the most," Ganta said. "General surgery especially sparked my interest. While the experience didn't determine exactly what specialty I'll pursue, it made me much more open-minded about the different paths medicine has to offer."
A New Perspective on Health Care
Beyond the clinical experiences, the program gave Ganta the opportunity to compare Spain's health care system with that of the United States.
"One of the biggest differences I noticed was that Spain's health care system places much less of the financial burden on patients than what we're accustomed to seeing in the United States," she said.
At the same time, she observed that increased accessibility can also present challenges, including longer wait times for certain procedures and imaging. Seeing both the strengths and tradeoffs of another country's health care system broadened her understanding of the many ways quality care can be delivered.
She was equally fascinated by the differences in medical education.
"It was really interesting to learn how students in Spain can begin medical training directly after high school," Ganta said. "Compared to the pathway in the United States, it's a much more streamlined route into medicine, and it gave me a new perspective on how physicians are trained around the world."
Friendships that Last Beyond Spain
While the hospital experience was the centerpiece of the program, Ganta says the relationships she built with her fellow students became one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.
"I didn't know anyone before the program, but I left with friendships that I know will last a lifetime," she said. "Even a year later, we're still talking about our experience together and wishing we could go back. Those friendships became just as meaningful as everything we learned in the hospital."
Looking back, Ganta encourages other students to embrace opportunities that push them outside their comfort zones.
"If you're even thinking about studying abroad, just take the leap," she said. "You'll grow personally and professionally, you'll learn so much about medicine and different cultures, and you'll build friendships that make the experience unforgettable. It truly became one of the best experiences of my life."