Students Return from International Health Semester Abroad

Darwin Young (NHS'08), at left with glasses, poses with schoolchildren in Kanungu, a district in western Uganda. This past fall, Young completed his international health practice experience in the country.

Each year, the Department of International Health at NHS sends seniors abroad for a four-month international health practical experience during the fall semester.

This year, 19 seniors participated in countries around the globe, including Australia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Mexico, and Uganda.

The students—who earned 12 credits for their work—returned to campus in January and presented their findings at three different sessions in St. Mary’s Hall. While abroad, they worked within various foreign health systems, engaged issues of providing culturally sensitive health services or promotion within an indigenous setting, and undertook empirical field research on key public health problems.

Upon returning, students are required to report about their experience to faculty and fellow students.