Global Health Inititiative Travel Opportunities

Jamaica

Jamaica

Organization:

American Caribbean Experience

Brief Description:

Students will be working along with other health care students (med students, nursing students) under the supervision of a health care professional, such as Dr. Guy and/or Dr. Herchline. They will be seeing patients in government clinics, in a rural setting. The main responsibilities involve taking vitals, taking patient histories and administering prescription/non-prescription medications to the patients after consulting with the doctor on staff. Other possible activities include taking a tour of the hospital in Port Maria, spending time with the patients at the infirmary, organizing the pharmacy. This trip is very beneficial in the sense that it provides a great cultural experience. All the workers at the Galina Breeze Hotel (where you will be staying) are Jamaican and you will have the opportunity to get to know them and their culture.

Timeline:

You will be told what the deadlines are at the main informational meeting for studying abroad. The next step is to turn in the deposits and the full payments to ACE. They will take care of purchasing your tickets and arranging every other detail for your in-country stay. At least one organizational meeting will be arranged for the students who are traveling with Dr. Guy and/or Dr. Herchline prior to leaving the country, where you will obtain all the information you need.

Financial Breakdown:

  • Airplane ticket (estimate): $650
  • Stay at Galina Breeze Hotel: $1,500
  • Recreational activity + meal: $25 each
  • Day on the private beach with lunch
  • Day at the Blue Hole with lunch

Fundraising Options:

No organized group fundraising. Students are always encouraged to send letters to family, friends, churches, etc.

Pre-Travel Preparation:

You are encouraged to do some reading about the history and current events in Jamaica prior to leaving United States. A packing list will be provided to all the students who are going on the trip several weeks before departure. The only thing students need to make sure to do a few weeks in advance is to pay for their trip and get the Hep B vaccine.

Required Vaccinations:

Hepatitis B

Visa Information

Visas are only required for students who are not U.S. citizens. If you are not a citizen, you must go to the Embassy of Jamaica website and find out what type of visa you are required to have to enter the country. As of June 1, 2009, a U.S. citizen must present a valid U.S. passport for entry into Jamaica. Passport cards may not be accepted, so plan accordingly. Also, a return ticket must be presented at the time of entry, along with proof of funds for the length of the visit.

Other Information:

Housing, meals, and transportation are provided by ACE. Lunches during the week are typically packed and are: PB&J, banana chips/cookies and fruit slices.

Swaziland

Swaziland

Organization:

The Luke Commission

Brief Description:

Students will be working with the Luke Commission, a faith-based, nonprofit organization that was started more than 10 years ago by Boonshoft School of Medicine graduate Harry Vanderwal. The Luke Commission is significantly involved in providing basic primary care services and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services to people across the country. Students will be working as a part of the larger Luke Commission primary care team in rural clinics and in the Luke Commission’s facility, the Miracle Campus, under the direction and supervision of other Luke Commission staff.

Timeline:

Dates are determined primarily by the Vanderwals, usually between mid-June and late July. It will be three to four weeks depending on the number of students participating and what fits in the student's schedule.

Financial Breakdown

Approximately $4,000. The largest determining factor is airfare which is usually $2,000-$2,300. The breakdown includes housing, food, car rental and weekend getaways.

  • Airplane (~$2,300)
  • Flat cost to Luke Commission (~$1,700)
  • Includes all food and accommodations for entire stay with The Luke Commission
  • Money for souvenirs (~$200)
  • Plus extra for touring South Africa for a whole week

Fundraising Options:

A local French Club collects money and donates it to the group each year. This usually amounts to a couple hundred dollars per person, depending on the number traveling. Students are always encouraged to send letters to family, friends, churches, etc.

Pre-Travel Preparation

An informational meeting will be led by student coordinators in the fall for students interested in participating in the elective. Preparation typically begins after the first of the year, and travel plans are finalized no later than the end of January. There will be several meetings with the student coordinator.

Required Vaccinations:

Hepatitis A, Malaria prophylaxis

Visa Information

Only a U.S. passport is required

Other Information:

Housing, meals and transportation are provided by the Luke Commission in the organization’s compound. Security is a primary consideration while in Swaziland, and the Luke Commission staff works with students to support safe experiences during non-work related excursions.

Peru

Peru

Organization:

People of Peru Project, some partnering with The Rural Amazonian Health Initiative.

Brief Description:

This opportunity allows you to travel to the Peruvian jungle based out of Iquitos to medically serve patients. In the clinics you will get the opportunity to experience all areas of health care including triaging patients where you will take vitals and utilize your ICM skills, organizing and packaging meds in the pharmacy, assisting the dentist with extractions, assisting and shadowing the physicians doing non-invasive procedures within your current scope of practice, and lastly, participating in medical and dental education.

Timeline:

The trip is usually for 3 weeks during late June through early July.

Financial Breakdown:

  • Volunteer Portion Cost: Estimated at $2,000
    • $1,100 for round trip international flights
    • $200 for Lima/Iquitos/Lima flights
    • $700 for food, lodging, translators, bus, boats, jungle excursion, medications & supplies, and administrative support
  • Cuzco Portion Cost: $1,000
    • $850 for hotels, guides, tickets for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, all ground transportation, bus, train to Agua Caliente, daily breakfast, buffet on the Sacred Valley tour day
    • $150 for lunch and dinner each day, and activities

Fundraising Options:

No organized group fundraising. Students are always encouraged to send letters to family, friends, churches, etc.

Pre-Travel Preparation:

An informational meeting will be led by student coordinators in the fall for students interested in participating in the elective. Preparation typically begins after the first of the year, and travel plans are finalized no later than the end of March. There will be several meetings with the student coordinator where you will get some safety, medical and other preparation.

Required Vaccinations:

Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Malaria prophylaxis (Doxycycline or Malarone) Visa Information: U.S. passport required

Other Information:

Housing, meals and transportation are provided by the People of Peru Project in the organization’s compound. Security is a primary consideration while in the jungle and the staff works to support safe experiences during work and non-work related excursions.

Malawi

Malawi

Organization:

Determined to Develop

Brief Description:

Students will gain first-hand experience with Malawi culture as well as providing healthcare, with a special emphasis on how these two interact. Students will learn about Malawi traditions, customs, and common practices, as well as broaden their global medical vocabulary. Students will work with local healthcare professionals to provide health services and observe how cultural beliefs and practices can affect treatment plans.

Students will spend their days in one of the local health centers, shadowing physicians, clinical officers, and nurses. Clinic duties will be assigned as appropriate to the students’ skill level, but will likely include triaging patients (using clinical medicine skills learned during the first year, under the supervision of physicians and clinical officers), checking on new mothers, working in the malnutrition clinics, measuring and documenting children’s growth, and documenting children’s immunizations.

Timeline:

3-week period in June-July (flexible) MS1, MS4 TBD

*Minimum requirement of 2 students going because cost/time of transporting students.

Financial Breakdown: 

  • Students will be housed at Maji Zuwa, the preferred housing vendor for Determined to Develop. All rooms include mosquito nets. Rooms are usually shared and bathrooms are close by. The lodge employs a night watchman. All meals are prepared fresh and the lodge’s water source is safe to drink due to consistent monitoring, filtering, chlorination.
  • Students will pay the program fee directly to Maji Zuwa. The Program fee is $1695, not including airfare, visa fees, immunizations, meals while traveling to/from Malawi, or incidental expenses. This Program fee includes orientation, all lodging and meals, comprehensive emergency medical and evacuation insurance, transportation, and cultural activities.
  • Students will be required to pay the $100 application fee to the University Center for International Education (UCIE) upon registration. This fee covers the International SOS Medical & Travel Security Services. Students will also be required to purchase supplemental medical and emergency evacuation insurance for $1.15 per day.
  • Students will be responsible for purchasing their own airline tickets to and from Malawi and are encouraged to travel together.

Pre-Travel Preparation:

An informational meeting will be led by student coordinators in the fall for students interested in participating in the elective. Preparation typically begins after the first of the year, and travel plans are finalized no later than the end of January. There will be several meetings with the student coordinator.

Required Vaccinations:

Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Saving Lives, Protecting People

Visa Information: 

Only a U.S. passport is required. 

Other Information:

An application must be submitted to the University Center for International Education 

United States

Organization:

Indian Health Services

  • Various Indian Reservations in AZ, SD, MT, MN, AK, TN, NM, AK

Brief Description:

The focus is on primary care. It is recommended that the student bring transportation in order to enjoy the great outdoors and national parks in their free time.

Timeline:

One-month rotations or year-round commitments

Financial Breakdown:

  • Travel to and from the reservation varies (some locations will reimburse the student up to $500)
    • It is recommended that you have some sort of available mode of transportation while volunteering.
  • Housing and meals are provided.

Fundraising Options:

No organized group fundraising. Students are always encouraged to send letters to family, friends, churches, etc.

Pre-Travel Preparation:

Research each facility to determine which is the best fit for the applicant. Read about food deserts and the people groups you will be serving.

Required Vaccinations:

None.

Visa Information:

None.

Other Information:

None.

Last edited on 10/17/2018.