Student Experiences
We encourage you to learn more about global health opportunities through previous student experiences. These students' firsthand accounts of their experiences will provide added insight when planning your trip. You'll learn what you can expect while you're abroad and the new perspective you'll receive upon your return.
For any questions about previous global health efforts, please contact the director of global health education, Dr. Varjavand at nv25@drexel.edu.
Share Your Experience
In order to raise global health awareness at Drexel, we hope that you'll share your experience by sending us reflections of your learning to post online for others. Include pictures or videos for which you have obtained consent to share.
Africa
“My experience in Cameroon was enlightening in many regards. My background is in global health and first year at Drexel only strengthened my desire to work on the ground delivering medical care in an international setting. During first year, we learned of the role of G6PD in malaria and the mechanisms of HIV transcription, but to actively be involved in the care of a child suffering from malaria or treating a young man with HIV really illuminated the importance of the fundamentals from first year. I was able to put a face to diseases and that elevated the importance of this material for me.”
Laura Pasternack (Summer 2014)
Building Solid Foundations
Unite for Sight
CDC Hubert Fellowship
The Lighthouse of Christ Hospital-Ophthalmology, Mombasa, Kenya
Dornsife Global Development Scholarship, Lesotho, South Africa
WorldVision & Dornsife Global Development Scholars
Love Volunteers
Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Lagos & Enugu
Trauma Surgery Team, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Dornslife Global Development Scholars Program
Svenja Schneider (Senegal, Summer 2016)
“I spent the summer working with World Vision in southern Senegal through the Dornsife Global Development Scholars Program. While I was there, I evaluated their current behavior change program which aims to improve hand-washing and latrine use through home visits in six different villages. I learned a lot from the conversations I had with families about their knowledge of hygiene and the struggles they faced as they tried to improve their sanitation. Additionally, these visits emphasized the importance of clean water and proper sanitation when it comes to development, growth, and innovation within a community. This experience reaffirmed my desire to go into global health and also deepened my understanding of responsible and sustainable development.”
Global Health Integration Module and Field Practicum Experience (Drexel University School of Public Health)
Frances Adachi (Summer 2013)
World Vision Tanzania WASH, Dornsife Global Development Scholar
Mlali Rehabilitation Center for Children
Dornsife Global Health Scholars
Maternal & Child Health, Kampala
Makarere University in Kampala, Uganda
Elective at St. Francis Hospital
University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Lusaka, Zambia
Samhita Nanduri, M4/senior elective, February 2025, Lusaka, Zambia
“I had the privilege of returning to Lusaka, Zambia for four weeks after spending nearly a year there on EDGE. This time around, I completed four weeks of clinical rotations in the stroke unit, female, male and admissions wards. I worked with residents and attendings to provide patient care. I followed my own set of patients and crafted differentials in the context of our global and socioeconomic settings. In addition to the common neurological cases seen during my U.S. training, I worked a lot with tertiary, severe manifestations of conditions such as TB meningitis, neurocysticercosis, cerebral malaria and neurosyphilis. I am grateful to have learned alongside and from compassionate, culturally sensitive physicians and I look forward to a career in global medicine.”
“There is a lot of onus on the student to find opportunities in global health and, most importantly, to find mentors willing to work with medical students. Finding the right "fit" for global health environment is important. I think a lot of one-month opportunities offer a great intro to the location/patient population, but the best learning comes with extended time, where cultural competence, familiarity with health care systems, and building relationships with colleagues can be explored better.”
World Vision Zambia WASH, Dornsife Global Development Scholar, Chongwe
NIH Summer Fellow
Asia
Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh
Nahreen Ahmed (Winter 2010)
Amar Hospital in Patiala, Punjab
ICU Rotation, Anandrishiji Hospital, Ahmednagar
Child Family Health International
Aurangabad, India
Mohammed Haji (Spring 2020, MS4)
Bhubaneswar, India
Debika Biswal Shinohara (Spring 2019, MS4)
Y.R.G. Care HIV and AIDS Medical and Research Center
Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Amritsar, Punjab, India
Clinical and Social Medicine Elective in Gujarat, India
Reena Parikh (Winter 2016)
Himalayan Health Exchange, Himachal Pradesh
Himalayan Health Exchange, Tuan
Himalayan Health Exchange, Spiti
Children Family Health International
Metro San Jose Medical Center and Grace Mission Hospital: Surgical Medical Missions
Nicole Ann Villa (Summer 2022, MS1)
Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Oncology and Radiology, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Kamol Usmonov (MS2, Summer 2022)
Europe
Idegsebészeti Klinika, Szeged, Hungary
Alexander Becsey (MS2 Summer 2022)
Amsterdam University Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Heather Ungerer (MS2 Summer 2022)
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Sebastien Trott (MS3 2021–2022)
Duke Global Policy (DGP) Program in Geneva
WHO Geneva Program
Kush Mody (MS1 Summer 2017)
WHO: Duke's Geneva Program on Global Policy and Governance: Global Health Fellowship
Alexander Slobada (Summer 2012)
“Duke's Geneva Program on Global Policy and Governance: Global Health Fellowship helped me obtain an internship at the WHO in Geneva. I interned for the Gender, Health Equity, and Human Rights team, and I got to see how global health policy is made at the highest level at the UN and international NGOs in order to build upon spending three summers working on global maternal health projects in Ghana. I had the privilege to meet, converse and work with students, doctors, nurses, public health professionals and diplomats from almost every country in the world.”
Doctors Without Borders, Geneva
Roxane Javadi (MS1 Summer 2017)
4th Year Elective in University of Geneva in Switzerland
Shawn Mattson (Spring 2015)
British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Richmond, England
Margot Bellon (M1, Summer 2024)
Oxford and Exeter Universities
Shawn Joshi (June 2017-June 2018, Summer 2023)
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Melissa Margolis (MS1, Summer 2019)
North America, Central America, Caribbean Islands
World Vision Honduras’ WASH Team
Celter Odango (MS1, Summer 2024)
Global Medical Brigades
South America
Hospital de Base & Federal Cardiology Institute
Adam Lundy (Summer 2015)
Cachamsi Medical Spanish Institute, Riobamba
Child Health Family International
Ohio University Tropical Disease Institute's Chagas Research
"The program had two aspects, a mapping and research portion about the kissing bug and prevention (as well as other data gathering). It was also a health clinic where we took care of whatever the local population's needs were."
Andrew Morris (Summer 2015)
Child Family Health International Community Medicine: From Rainforest to Coast Program
Virtual Experiences
Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children Global Health Fellowship Summer Program
Courtney DiSangro (MS1, Summer 2020)
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