by Jennifer Kowalewski
Caridad Martinez
would like to study medicine abroad by taking advantage of
OU-COM’s international programs.
“I think they give you the
opportunity to learn and get involved in research,” she says.
The first-year medical student
had the opportunity to learn about these programs at the
International Programs Fair held Monday, Oct. 24. The fair
brought together programs, their directors and past participants
with inquiring students. As Martinez walked around Irvine Hall,
enjoying the finger food, she talked about the importance of
understanding medical care around the planet.
“We are a global community,”
Martinez says. “I think International Programs shows a great
appreciation for the global community, while allowing us to
explore different health issues.”
Cheri Sheets,
administrative assistant for social medicine and international
programs, says, “Our international programs give students the
chance to grow personally and professionally.”
“Improving cultural
sensitivity, helping medical students hone their history taking
and clinical skills, providing opportunities for research,
facilitating the educational exchange of information, developing
and improving language and communication skills and increasing
the exposure of osteopathic medicine worldwide are among the
goals of our programs.”
Each year, about 30 students
from OU-COM take part in programs, says Gillian Ice, Ph.D.,
M.P.H., director of International
Programs and chairwoman of the International Programs Advisory
Committee. The fair brought together programs offered by the
college and the university.
International Programs include
the Share Kenya-Ohio, a clinical program started by Benson
Bonyo, D.O. (’98), to bring more and better medical care
into rural western Kenya. In Kenya, medical students see a
variety of diseases not common in the United States, such as
leprosy and typhoid. The Kenyan Grandparents Study seeks to
examine the impact of care-giving for orphaned children on the
health and well-being of their grandparents.
The Individually-Organized
Program allows students to design their own program through
churches, universities, the American Medical Association or
other organizations. Traditional Chinese Medicine takes students
to Beijing for one month to learn at the Chinese Academy of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guang’an Men Hospital and the
World Health Organization.
Introduction to the Galapagos
Islands Natural History is open to all students interested in
learning about these islands and the species inhabiting them.
The Tropical Disease Biology
Workshop in Ecuador focuses on research of tropical diseases,
such as chagas and malaria. Alongside this is the
community-based Tropical Disease Research program, in which
students conduct research and help to educate communities on the
health issues of the region.
One of the longest running
programs at OU-COM is Charles J. Cannon Edinburgh Geriatric
Tutorial, which takes students to a world-class center for
geriatric research and training.
Deborah Meyer, Ph.D., R.N.,
administrator of the geriatrics tutorial and assistant professor
of geriatric medicine, says the program offers a chance to see
geriatric care in Scotland, considered by many to the best in
the world.
“These programs provide great
experiences with non-American medical practices,” Meyer says.
“They give students an opportunity to see other cultures,
health-care system and diseases not prevalent in this country. I
think the fair is a great idea.”
“It allows students to see the
entire scope of international programs in one venue.”
At the fair, music played while
pictorial displays showed the past experiences of OU-COM
students. Passing on words of wisdom were some of those
students.
Third-year Amy Zidron
and second-year Sarah Schillig were on hand to talk about
their experiences abroad. Both spent time in Kenya and plan to
return. Zidron saw many diseases not common in Western society.
“You have the opportunity to
use what you’ve learned here at OU-COM,” she says, adding that
the trip was “life altering.”
“It is the most amazing thing
I’ve ever done.”
Schillig worked on the
grandparents study in Kenya. At the fair, she said she hoped she
helped students better understand what international programs
are all about.
“It’s phenomenal how much one
can learn and impact the well-being of others with so few of the
resources that we have here,” she says.
You can learn more about
OU-COM’s international programs at the International Programs
Web site,
http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/International/index.htm.
- 30 -
News for
the week of Oct
17 –
Oct 22
