From Pompeii to Public Health: Nursing students uncover the roots of health equity
Standing among the ancient ruins of Pompeii, students in the College of Nursing's Study Abroad program discussed how natural disasters, environmental conditions, and urban planning continue to shape community health. Days earlier, they had compared the Italian and American health care systems in the classroom. Now, history surrounded them, transforming abstract concepts into lived experience.
For Tarnia Newton, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, associate clinical professor and outreach and community engagement coordinator, moments like these captured the purpose behind the college's first participation in the University of Arizona's five-week interdisciplinary study abroad program in Orvieto, Italy.
Rather than studying health equity through lectures alone, students encountered it firsthand while traveling through Orvieto, Rome, Florence, Pompeii, Paestum, and Tivoli, exploring connections among history, culture, public policy, and health.
“Every city tells a story about power, privilege, resilience, innovation, environmental change, and human survival,” Newton said. “Students began to see that health equity isn't just about health care. It's shaped by history, education, infrastructure, politics, and the environments in which people live.”
The Summer 2026 program brought together 60 students from across the university, representing disciplines including pre-nursing and nursing, pre-medicine, speech-language pathology, and many other academic programs. Eight faculty members from diverse fields, including art, English, journalism, communication, religious studies, information science, and astronomy, fostered an interdisciplinary learning environment that encouraged students to examine complex issues from multiple perspectives.
“Our responsibility as nurse educators extends beyond preparing students to deliver excellent clinical care,” said Cindy Rishel, PhD, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, interim dean of the College of Nursing. “We must also help them understand the historical, cultural, and social forces that shape health and well-being. Experiences like these broaden our students' perspectives, deepen their compassion, and prepare them to provide equitable, culturally responsive care in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Newton taught two courses during the program: NURS 250: Health Equity: Connection, Communities, Healing in Urgent Times and NURS 151: Sexually Transmitted Infections Perspective. Throughout the five weeks, Italy served as an extension of the classroom, with lectures, reflective discussions, journaling, museum visits, walking tours, and comparisons between the U.S. and Italian health care systems.
Photos: Students from the College of Nursing and other disciplines spent time in Italy this summer, exploring historic landmarks, engaging with local communities, and participating in a community service project in Orvieto as part of a unique study abroad experience.
Each destination highlighted a distinct aspect of health and of society. At the Galileo Museum in Florence, students examined the evolution of science and evidence-based thinking. The House of Dante sparked discussions on literature, politics, and cultural identity. In Pompeii, the ruins of an ancient city illustrated how environmental disasters and urban planning affected public health and community resilience. Paestum highlighted connections among early civilizations, agriculture, and food systems, while Tivoli demonstrated how engineering and water management shaped health and quality of life.
“What made this experience exceptional was that students experienced health equity rather than merely reading about it,” Newton said. “Each location revealed another layer of the social determinants of health.”
The program’s interdisciplinary nature further enriched those discoveries. Students from diverse academic backgrounds approached the same experiences through different lenses, sparking conversations that challenged assumptions and broadened their understanding of patient care.
Seeing classroom concepts come to life in places where history unfolded challenged students to think beyond the clinical setting and to develop a deeper appreciation for cultural humility, global health, and the importance of understanding patients within their historical, cultural, and community contexts.
The experience also reshaped Newton's perspective. “Before the program, I viewed Italy primarily as a place to compare health care systems,” she said. “What I did not anticipate was how profoundly its history would reshape my understanding of teaching health equity.”
As she traveled alongside students, Newton found herself reflecting on those influences through a historical lens.
“It challenged me to consider whose voices have been preserved, whose have been lost, who benefited from systems of power, and who was excluded,” she said. “Rather than viewing the social determinants of health as a contemporary framework, I now see them as a story unfolding over thousands of years.”
Those insights have already shaped how Newton approaches teaching, inspiring students to think more critically about structural inequities, community resilience, advocacy, climate change, and the creation of healthier, more equitable communities.
As the college's first participation in a University of Arizona study abroad program, the experience reflects its commitment to experiential learning, global engagement, and preparing culturally responsive health care professionals equipped to serve increasingly diverse populations. By connecting classroom learning with history, culture, and global perspectives, the program challenged students to view health through a broader lens, a perspective that will continue to shape how they care for patients and communities throughout their careers.