My name is Chase Davidson, and I am a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering with a minor in Chemistry and Religious Studies. This summer, I have been given the opportunity through Pitt Business’s International Internship program in Dublin, Ireland. Over the span of eight weeks, I will be immersing myself in a new environment, allowing me to deepen my personal and professional development.

Before I get into what I’m doing in Ireland for the next eight weeks, I would like to share with you how I got here in the first place. I am from Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and have spent much of my life idolizing the work of Doctors and Physicians. So, when it came to deciding where to continue my education in the field of science, Pitt’s exceptional Engineering and Biology programs made the decision easy. As I went through Freshman and sophomore years, I was blessed with great friends, who now feel like family, and amazing opportunities to develop my skills in the field of Bioengineering. During this time, I was able to go on a medical mission trip to Kenya, explore new ways to fight Cancer through research, and begin to dive into new model inner ear drug delivery methods. But through all these amazing experiences, I found that what gets me out of bed to go to class at 8 am is the dream of being able to help people out in ways I never thought would be possible.

When I sat down to decide my plan for this summer, I was stuck until I came across the Pitt Business International internship program, where I would be able to go abroad to one of many locations and do something impactful, outside of just taking more classes. I was initially drawn to Ireland due to its culture’s deep connections to faith and religion. All my life, I have had a deep connection to religion, specifically Catholicism, and my love for it has deepened with age. But the thing that has always been a key factor for that love is the community that comes with faith, and to say the least, Irish culture does this well. Catholicism has shaped much of the Irish culture, from their architecture to even the toasts at a pub and is always something I would like to be a part of. The second thing that drew me to Ireland is the scenery. I have always yearned for the quiet escape of nature. Whether I am going on hikes with my friends or sitting on the porch with my parents, talking about the day and listening to the birds sing in the evening. Nature has always been my second home, and when it comes to Ireland, the views are amazing. From driving down the winding backroads, seeing the miles of farmland, to standing at the point of Moher Coastal, it all seems to come straight out of fairy tales. So I chose to leave my friends and family for a brief eight weeks and join fellow Pitt classmates in a life-changing trip to Dublin, Ireland.

So what am I actually doing in Ireland?

This was more or less the harder portion of this internship; Finding something to do that would not only allow me to immerse myself in the Irish culture but also make an impact in my professional career. As a student looking to go to medical school and eventually become a physician, getting clinical hours and lab hours is not only a necessity for the future but also very challenging to obtain. So, when I went into the meeting with my placement advisor, I knew it would be a struggle to get a placement that ticked all the boxes. But after some meetings and a few emails, we decided that St. John of God might be the place for me this summer. A company that focuses on providing mental health and intellectual disability support to members of the community in Ireland, and I couldn’t agree more. St. John of God will allow me not only to help those around me but also to be involved in a firm community of believers.

So… over the next eight weeks, I look forward to updating everyone, every week, on what’s going on in my life as I journey to Ireland and become a part of their community.