For the summer before my MS2 year, I was selected as a Dornsife Global Development Scholar (DGDS) to work with the World Vision International team in Surabaya, Indonesia (Wahana Visi Indonesia, WVI).

My project focused on community fieldwork, collaborating with local health cadres — lay workers who support health promotion activities — and waste management staff to understand the challenges of organic waste management and its impact on public health within WVI’s project area. I gained hands-on experience with wastewater recycling, the production and use of EcoEnzyme — a natural cleaning agent derived from fermented kitchen waste — and explored how hazardous waste, including diapers, could be repurposed for commercial use. This work provided a unique perspective on integrating community engagement with sustainable global health initiatives.

Outside of fieldwork, my team and I, along with other Drexel Global Development Scholars in Indonesia, explored Jakarta, Malang, Bali and Yogyakarta on weekends, immersing ourselves in local culture, cuisine, language and history. This experience offered a rich and practical introduction to the collaborative, community-centered approach essential for a future career as a global health physician.