Over espresso and gelato, clarity takes shape abroad

The Global Perspectives in Neuroscience and Medicine program, based at the Steger Center for International Scholarship in Switzerland, pairs intensive research with cultural immersion and close mentorship in ways that can reshape students’ futures.

A three-week summer study abroad program defined by sunup-to-sundown research draws twice as many applicants as it can accept. Why? Word has spread: Students return with new confidence, clearer career goals, and in some cases, entirely new dreams.

The program doesn’t just take students to Switzerland — it immerses them in new cultures, perspectives, and ways of learning. Studying at the Steger Center, sprinting to catch a train to Milan after class, or soaking in the serenity of an Alpine lake are part of daily life. Over time, those everyday experiences become moments that shape students long after they return home.

Kristin Phillips, who leads the program, said being in Switzerland is essential to its success.

“This kind of learning wouldn’t work in Blacksburg,” said Phillips, associate collegiate professor of neuroscience in the College of Science. “Only the Steger Center provides a home, community, and atmosphere that promotes this Socratic approach.”

And, she said, the method works.

“Students grow in their courage. They become more willing to ask questions, try new ideas, and even make mistakes,” Phillips said. “It gives them a real taste of what graduate school — and the field of medicine — are like.”

By combining undergraduate research, close faculty mentorship, and immersive study abroad, the program reflects Virginia Tech’s emphasis on learning experiences that help students connect academic work to real world goals.

A life changed over coffee

Rishi Devulapalli '20 still remembers the moment his path shifted — sitting at a European cafe, espresso in hand, talking with a professor.

At the time, Devulapalli was conflicted. Should he pursue a Ph.D. or an M.D.? Was it unrealistic to want both? Over coffee, his professor talked through the possibilities.

“After that conversation,” Devulapalli said, “I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to do this.’ That moment shaped my future.”

He went on to become the first student from the School of Neuroscience accepted into an M.D./Ph.D. program. He is now in his fifth year of that dual-degree track.

Beyond clarifying his academic plans, the study abroad program also deepened his understanding of global health. A field visit to a dementia care village in the Netherlands proved especially influential.

“There are other ways to approach medicine and I want to be part of that,” Devulapalli said. “The experience shaped the way I think about global health, equity, and collaboration. I wasn’t considering global health before, but now it’s part of my long-term vision.”

A new direction over gelato

Four years later, Katie Zaszewski '24 had a similar career-altering moment — this one over gelato. 

Studying abroad had revealed a passion for global health she hadn’t previously recognized. On the program’s final day, she wrestled with a familiar question: Was it too late to change direction so late in her senior year? 

Like Devulapalli, she turned to her professor. Over a conversation by the lake, she found clarity. It wasn’t too late.

“I remember being in the airport on my way home looking up global health programs,” Zaszewski said. “Right then, I texted Dr. Phillips asking her for a letter of recommendation. As soon as I got home, I put together a list of schools and started the applications.”

Today, Zaszewski is pursuing a master’s degree in global health and plans to work in global health policy or medical management abroad.

“You could definitely say that scoop of gelato changed my life,” she said.

Making these moments possible

For alumni and donors who help make scholarships possible, these stories illustrate the lasting impact of study abroad — from resilience and global perspective to mentors who guide students well beyond graduation.

Michelle Olsen, director of the School of Neuroscience, said financial barriers often prevent students from applying.

“We would love the opportunity to provide any one of our students the opportunity to participate in study abroad,” Olsen said, “but financial considerations can stand in the way. Donors who establish study abroad scholarships open doors for these students.”

Jerry Hulick ’73, for example, has helped many neuroscience students participate in the Global Perspectives in Neuroscience and Medicine program through his generous support.

“Dr. Phillips’ program is transformational for our students — for their career choices and for the broader context it gives them for viewing neuroscience and medicine,” Olsen said. “When students hear that financial support may be available, it encourages applicants who might not otherwise consider applying. Dr. Hulick’s generosity opens that door for them.”