After a semester’s worth of preparation – practicing Spanish, learning about the history
and culture of the region, and researching the impacts of global barriers to health
– University of South Florida (USF) Judy Genshaft Honors College students traveled
to Bella Vista in the Dominican Republic to volunteer in health clinics during the
2023 winter break.
“The Dominican Republic Beyond the Classroom: Health and Culture” is an Honors course
typically offered each fall and is regularly taught by Associate Dean of Academic
Affairs, Dr. Lindy Davidson.
During the Fall semester, students engage in the coursework portion of the program where they build the practical skills and knowledge necessary to ready themselves for work in the clinic and engaging with the local Bella Vista community before embarking on their journey out of the country.
“Dr. Davidson did a great job of preparing us both culturally and in the language sense... once we arrived, we were like, wow, everything fits into place. We got everything we needed and we were ready to take part in that community.” said Honors student Aakash Vijeesh who majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in public health, of his time in the course.
IMPACTFUL JOURNEYS
Over the 11-day program students were housed directly in the Bella Vista community
where they partnered with the Kerolle Initiative to support health education projects, set up mobile clinics, shadow physicians, and
take part in food security programs.
The Kerolle Initiative, founded by Dr. Reginald Kerolle, is a nonprofit community
health organization based in the Dominican Republic dedicated to providing holistic
health interventions to improve the quality of life and access to medical care in
rural communities.
“It made me more passionate about medicine than ever, being able to see all the ways
that we can help those in need, those that don't have the means to help themselves
... it brings me so much joy.” said Honors student Nusheen Immen who is dual majoring
in biomedical sciences and economics while minoring in psychology.
The formative clinical experiences and cultural awareness that students develop on
the trip are powerful tools in reshaping health narratives and helping students interested
in careers in medicine to become passionate health care providers in the future.
“You learn how these doctors treat their patients, and it really shows that the doctors
know their patients, they know their family, they know their mother, the sister, the
daughters ... how many kids they have ... and it shows how that information is so
valuable to treating them,” said Vijeesh.
Since 2016, over 200 Honors students have participated in the program, which can leave a lasting impact on students, many of whom are aspiring physicians themselves: “I got to take that step forward and see what it was like to be in the shoes of a physician and it made me realize that it's exactly what I wanted, exactly the path that I want to take,” shared Immen.
FORGING THEIR PATHS
For the faculty and students who have had the opportunity to interact with the Bella
Vista community, it's important to recognize that this program extends beyond an 11-day
service trip. Students form lasting connections with each other, their host families,
clinic patients, and children in the local area, fostering meaningful interactions.
“Our host families could not have been more welcoming and warm. We were clearly in
a very different environment, which was challenging for many of us. However, the host
families, the kids, and the people in the community made it feel like home,“ said
Vijeesh, reflecting on the group's initial experience entering the Bella Vista community.
When asked about the greatest takeaway from the experience in the Dominican Republic,
Immen replied with the powerful words Dr. Kerolle shared with students upon their
arrival:
“Nothing good comes from the comfort zone.” Immen continued by saying, “I gave so
much and I got so much, and it was all because I was out of my comfort zone. Do things
that you wouldn't normally do because that's how you learn best.”
Students interested in this Honors experience and other study abroad opportunities
can learn more about the Dominican Republic Beyond the Classroom: Health and Culture program.