09/18/2026
Flashback Friday: Bridging Cultures Through Athletic Training 🇺🇸 🇪🇸
This summer, the UB MSAT program welcomed 9 students and 1 faculty member from Universidad Camilo José Cela (UCJC) in Madrid, Spain to Buffalo for a four-day immersive international experience centered around three things: healthcare, culture, and fun!
HEALTHCARE: Students learned with and from one another while exploring athletic training and sports medicine in the United States. Experiences included the Buffalo Bills Training Facility, UB Athletics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Excelsior Orthopaedics, and hands-on learning in emergency care, heat illness management, and sports performance.
CULTURE: This was much more than an academic visit. UB Athletic Training faculty opened their homes and hosted this group from Spain throughout their stay, creating a truly immersive experience. Sharing meals, conversations, traditions, and everyday life gave everyone the opportunity to learn about each other's cultures and build connections beyond the classroom.
FUN: Because some of the best connections happen outside the classroom! From Niagara Falls to Spanish soccer night at Silo City, a UB MSAT alumni gathering, a cookout, and laser tag, there was plenty of time for everyone to experience Buffalo and simply have fun together.
At the heart of it all was the opportunity to learn with and from each other. What started as an international educational experience became an opportunity to share perspectives on healthcare and culture, create lasting professional connections, and develop lifelong friendships across borders. đź’™
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this experience possible and to our UCJC friends for making Buffalo your home away from home!
