As one of Arthrex’s many partnerships with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), a small group of students recently visited the Arthrex global headquarters in Naples, Florida, to learn about the company and the medical device field. The students were participating in FGCU’s Comparative Healthcare Systems course that introduced them various health care systems from around the world and allowed them to compare and contrast the benefits and challenges of each heath care model.
In addition to the theoretical component, the course also included a two-week study abroad practical experience where the group would also visit health care facilities in Italy, Switzerland and Germany, including Arthrex’s EMEA regional headquarters in Munich, Germany.
“The purpose of the program is to provide students with the opportunity to explore health care through a comparative lens by comparing and contrasting European health care systems with the U.S. health care system,” said Professor and Health Science Chair at FGCU Lesley Clack. “The course offered an immersive experience into European health care through engaging discussions, guest lectures from health care professionals [HCPs] and site visits to health care facilities in each country.”
During the students' time in Naples, they toured the campus and participated in a question-and-answer session with President and Founder Reinhold Schmieding on the origins of Arthrex and his inspiration for continuous innovation.
“It was interesting to learn how Arthrex works with different health care institutions around the U.S. and what they need to do to help patients get the products they need,” said English student Isabella Pisciotta. “I’m fascinated by understanding what each country is doing to help make medicine more accessible to their citizens and this class has shown me there is no perfect system. Each plan has benefits and flaws.”
As a company that serves customers globally, the students' visits to Arthrex in Naples and Germany helped illustrate how a company caters to the various needs of its customers around the world and how different health care systems require different strategies and operations from the businesses that work with them.
“After visiting the EMEA regional headquarters, students appreciated that Arthrex truly is a global company,” said International Finance and Business Analytics Manager Matthias Enichlmayr, who served as a liaison to the course. “Besides our North American market, we serve many countries around the world, either directly through one of more than 25 subsidiaries or indirectly with the help of local business partners. The Arthrex team in Munich oversees a very diverse portfolio, from G7 countries in Europe to smaller, developing countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.”
As the students and Dr. Clack embarked on the European portion of their education, they began in Florence, Italy, where they visited the Villa Consolata Retirement Home to learn about the structure of the Italian health care system.
“The payment model there is split into three parts,” said Isabella. “One-third comes from city taxes, another third from the regional government and only the final third is paid by families. It’s a huge contrast to what we’re used to in the U.S.”
To complete the course, students are required to write a paper comparing the U.S. health care system with one of the three countries they visited during the trip. For health science student Stephanie Herrera Reyes, who hopes to become a physician assistant, the biggest takeaway was accessibility.
“I had no idea how different the systems really are,” she said. “In Europe, health insurance is mandatory, so people don’t have to worry about paying out of pocket for expensive treatments. I always knew health care was more accessible there, but this trip really opened my eyes.”
The final stop on the tour was Arthrex’s EMEA regional headquarters in Munich, where the students were welcomed by EMEA Managing Director Torgeir Erlandsen.
“In EMEA, we serve a market of 4.1 billion people,” he said. “With 17 subsidiaries and two marketing offices, in addition to 75 distributor markets, our biggest challenge is navigating the diversity of markets across the region.”
The visit left a strong impression on the students. Senior Research Engineer Daniela Warnecke and Associate Clinical Study Manager Kerstin Völkl introduced them to Arthrex’s research initiatives before they participated in a hands-on session at the Munich ArthroLab™.
“It was inspiring to see how far technology has come over the years,” said Stephanie.
With its global headquarters in Southwest Florida, Arthrex values opportunities to connect with local students through academic partnerships.
“I already knew about Arthrex because I have relatives in health care,” said Isabella. “But now I have a much deeper understanding. I was especially impressed by the MobileLabs, which bring Medical Education to rural areas. Arthrex is clearly making a big impact.”
EMEA Medical Education Operations Manager Mirjam Müllers coordinated the visit to Munich and is looking forward to future collaborations with FGCU.
“It was a pleasure to host FGCU students and faculty,” said EMEA Arthrex Experience Manager Immanuel Görens. “Their enthusiasm and thoughtful questions sparked meaningful conversations. We’re proud to support the next generation of health care leaders and look forward to staying connected.”
