During my two weeks in Oaxaca, Mexico, I shadowed at a primary health care clinic and at a public hospital while taking Spanish lessons to improve my medical terminology, comprehension and ability to communicate with others in the community. During the week, I would go to clinic or the hospital from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and go to Spanish lessons from 3 to 5 p.m.

While at the clinic the first week, I sat in on consultations between the patient and physician where I learned more about common health problems that plagued the local population. In addition, I gained valuable insight into the documentation and recordkeeping process as well as public policy and healthcare access in Mexico. During my second week at the hospital, I went on rounds with the attendings, residents and medical students in multiple units.

This experience allowed me to gain a better understanding of the internal structure of the hospital system and learn first-hand the differences between the American and Mexican health care experience. By rounding on a plethora of cases in a multitude of units, I gained an appreciation for the different specialties. I was also provided the unique privilege of scrubbing into surgeries where I was able to view an entire team working cohesively as one unit to treat a patient.

The Spanish lessons each afternoon allowed me to practice my grammar and verbal ability in a supportive and immersive setting. In addition to the medical and Spanish learning aspect, we had a lot of opportunities to explore Oaxaca, try new foods, and take part in cultural celebrations. It was truly a fully immersive experience. While there, I stayed with a homestay mom and other participants in the program. Our homestay mom cooked us authentic (and amazing) food for breakfast and lunch each day. We had our evenings free to explore the city where I saw bands perform in the Zócalo and calendas parading down the street, and we visited the famous Santa Domingo church. In addition, we had weekends free to go on cultural tours to famous sites in Oaxaca where I learned about the rich history of the area and activities to do while there. Overall, this experience informed me about the Mexico health care system, but also the beautiful Oaxaca city.

Alexa Smith presented "Cross-Border Healthcare Utilization Among US-Mexico Border Residents: A Literature Review" at Discovery Day 2023.