Liberal Arts Major: Psychology
Minors: Global Health, Biology, Bioethics and Medical Humanities
Hometown: Yardley, Pennsylvania
Experience Time: Summer 2022
Give us a brief summary of your experience?
I spent 5 weeks in Oaxaca, Mexico for my global health minor fieldwork. During my time in Oaxaca, I rotated at the public hospital, an NGO, and several government sponsored community health clinics. In addition, I lived in a homestay and participated in a Spanish language intensive. When I was not shadowing healthcare and public health professionals, I was attending lectures from local community members, visiting cultural sites, and traveling to nearby artisanal villages.
How did this experience impact you academically?
This experience was a capstone for my global health minor and provided real world experience that I connected to my past coursework on public health, epidemiology, communicable diseases, biology, bioethics, and health psychology. In addition, I was able to learn more about Latin American culture and the Mexican health system.
How will this experience impact your career goals?
My time in Oaxaca solidified my interest to work in health policy to address health disparities and inequity. I will likely be working with the growing Mexican immigrant population in the US in my future career. Having an understanding of Mexican culture and basic Spanish language proficiency will increase my ability to connect and serve this population. In addition, this experience made me feel more prepared for my MSc in Public Health program, which begins this September.
"My time in Oaxaca solidified my interest to work in health policy to address health disparities and inequity."
How has the College of the Liberal Arts helped you to find and/or succeed in this experience (e.g., adviser, faculty, staff, enrichment funds, etc.)?
The generous funding I received from the College of the Liberal Arts significantly improved the affordability of this study abroad. In addition, my psychology major aided in my understanding of health behavior in Oaxaca, Mexico. Finally, my bioethics and medical humanities minor helped me develop a critical lens when engaging in a global health experience abroad.