There’s an allure to travel and to experiencing how other cultures live, work and play. But what happens when those experiences ― eating traditional dishes, enjoying local arts performances and visiting monuments ― take place in an active war zone?

For Claudia VanHuffel, an internship that took her to Ukraine opened her eyes to that unique juxtaposition ― cultural beauty amid the sound of air raid sirens and visits with injured soldiers.

“Listening to Ukrainians express their heartfelt sentiments about their nation and culture, accompanied by remarkable positivity and passion amidst such conflict, left a profound impact on me,” she says.

A fourth-year international business student, Claudia had the unique experience of not only traveling to Ukraine during the height of the war, but of immersing herself in war-time health care as part of an internship with the JANZ Corporation. The organization, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business, provides medical equipment, services and solutions to the U.S. government, contractors, military members and their dependents.

Having started as an intern and quickly transitioning to the company’s global business coordinator, Claudia assisted JANZ in creating the first-ever International Healthcare Summit. Held in Kyiv, Ukraine, in November 2023, the summit brought together international medical experts and industry thought leaders to improve patient outcomes and the quality of life for those afflicted by the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.

“We spent months meeting with Ukraine’s frontline soldiers, medics, surgeons, military personnel, government officials and local NGOs to assess the situation from their points of view,” Claudia says. “These individuals became conference speakers, giving voice to Ukrainian needs and sharing wartime innovations in medicine.”

Doctors, researchers, trauma surgeons and other medical professionals from around the world collaborated with government officials to discuss new medical and adaptive technologies including surgical procedures, treatments for battlefield trauma, access to medication and equipment, and rehabilitation.

“The new and innovative techniques discussed at the summit will help preserve life from the battlefield to bedside,” she says. “We set a lot in motion ― established new initiatives between hospitals, shared medical innovations and facilitated collaboration between medical professionals and government officials.”

Many of the conference attendees, including Claudia, also visited wounded soldiers in a local hospital.

During one such visit, Claudia formed a connection with the mother of a wounded soldier in the ICU. Their heartfelt conversation, aided by technology such as Google Translate, provided insight into the gravity of her son's mine-blast injury. Subsequently, the team learned the patient was having difficulty relocating abroad for the treatment he required.

The JANZ team was able to help transfer the wounded soldier to a hospital in France where he could get the treatment he needed.

“I must commend Rick Finsterbusch, our company CEO, for promptly taking decisive action and working with authorities to facilitate this with unwavering determination,” says Claudia. “He and the entire JANZ team embody their principles, consistently taking proactive steps and contributing to the greater good. They practice what they preach, a rare quality in the business world that makes me proud to work for individuals with such big hearts.”

JANZ is also currently providing personal sponsorship to the patient's family in France as he receives the necessary care.

So just how did Claudia end up as an intern in the middle of a war?

“Listening to podcasts and reading more global news sparked an interest in international affairs and business and a passion for becoming a global citizen,” says Claudia, who changed her major from hospitality management to international business.

At Fisher, she discovered the Ohio Export Internship Program (OEIP). In partnership with the Ohio Department of Development, OEIP prepares students with global trade and commerce education and skills before pairing them with Ohio-based, small- and mid-sized companies for internships designed to create or expand the companies’ exporting capabilities.

“My time at JANZ taught me a lot about business, war and empathy,” she says. “When you conduct business, you have to approach things through a professional lens, but in healthcare and especially war, everything must be carried out through a lens of compassion and understanding.”

“Being in Ukraine and working with JANZ has expanded my global perspective and opened my eyes to the greater reality. The city of Kyiv, with its stunning beauty and profound history, left a lasting impression. Experiencing Ukrainian culture deepened my appreciation and emphasized the importance of preserving it.”