Of the many study abroad programs I have participated in, my trip to the Dominican Republic stands above the rest. After finishing my first three semesters of medical school, being able to apply what I have learned to clinical scenarios was the most perfectly-timed, rewarding experience I could have asked for. We shadowed in ophthalmology, the emergency room, and a diabetic foot clinic which illustrated the health care needs specific to the Dominican Republic population. We interacted with the entire health care team through the week and learned more about their roles among the patients and fellow health care providers. In addition to our experiences in the clinic, we visited the first hospital in the western hemisphere, San Nicolas de Bari, which combined my great love of medicine with culture that we could not experience anywhere else in the world. The benefit of attending a study abroad is exemplified in this experience! We can learn medicine anywhere, but we can only have these cultural experiences while studying abroad. Finally, we worked closely with the UNIBE medical school students throughout the week of the study abroad. It was an eye opening experience being able to contrast my American medical school opinions with those in the Dominican Republic. The most distinguishing feature of the Dominican medical school system was their continuity of undergraduate and medical school education. Instead of completing an undergraduate education and then applying to medical school, they are combined into one eight year curriculum. It was fascinating having conversations with Dominican students and sharing pros and cons of using one system over the other. These are the experiences that cannot be duplicated anywhere else except on study abroad. I encourage all students, whether pre-med, nursing, or PA to attend one of the many meaningful programs offered by the Institute for Global Health. By participating, you will be diversifying your health care knowledge and adding meaningful experience to your education. 

Name: Brittany Ladson
Status: Graduate (Professional)
Major: Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Macomb, Michigan
Program: Pre-Clinical Observation, Culture & Medicine in the Dominican Republic