SeaCouver Study Tour

SeaCouver is a five day program taking place in both Seattle and Vancouver. This study tour aims to educate students on the intricacies of the US and Canadian healthcare systems going beyond basic facts to delve into the core of the systems and their impact on patients, families, and communities. Participants travel to some of the premiere medical institutions in both countries including the University of Washington and the University of British Columbia hearing fom experts in the field and discussing policy. Participants will also visit hospitals and clinics to witness healthcare firsthand and will later dine with the local physicians and medical students to informally discuss their opinions on healthcare. Perhaps the most memorable aspect of Seacouver is the opportunity to interview pedestrians on the street in both Vancouver and Seattle to hear firsthand how their lives have been affected by illness and the healthcare system, and also their perceptions of the two systems.
Participants in the past have found a wide variety of perspectives during these interviews, as well as an interesting combination of misinformation interspersed with facts. In the end, participants have come away with an understanding that both healthcare systems have problems, some of which are inherent to the system, and others of which are related to circumstance. One thing remained clear, however: the Canadian system guarantees equitable access to healthcare, and the American system does not.
All healthcare systems involve making tradeoffs, but AMSA believes that regardless of tradeoffs, any desirable healthcare system must have at its base a guarantee of comprehensive, affordable healthcare for all.