GHI CORNER
 

Global Health Scholars Matt Almany (M4) and John Broderick (M4), along with classmate Elise Yoshinaga (M4), traveled to Riobamba, Ecuador at the end of January for a clinical rotation with the Cacha Medical Spanish Institute (Cachamsi). They completed a home stay which, along with daily medical Spanish lessons, significantly improved their Spanish skills. During their first week, the team visited a local grade school where they completed physical exams, collected health surveys and presented to groups of students about health habits. The following week, Matt and John worked alongside physicians, residents, and nursing staff in rural health clinics. Most days, they would set out on foot to complete home visits throughout the area; diagnosing disease such as osteoarthritis, upper respiratory infections, and dermatological conditions. During the final two weeks, John transitioned to a private hospital in downtown Riobamba where he learned to navigate internal medicine rounds in Spanish.

Along with their clinical experience, these Boonshoft students were able to enjoy some of Ecuador's famous tourist sites, monuments, and foods. They will take the lessons they learned at Cachamsi next year to residency, and far beyond. 

Global Health Scholar Zenab Saeed (M4) traveled to San Jose, California in January to complete a two-week rotation with the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley (IHCSCV). Her rotation in the city of San Jose, which is on the land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, was a unique experience through the Indian Health Service (IHS). California is home to one of the largest American Indian and Alaska Native populations, with the vast majority living in urban areas like San Jose. While there, Zenab learned about the history of the marginalization and health inequity of our country's indigenous populations through medical, political, and community-based lenses. 

Zenab worked in two outpatient community clinics with multiple preceptors and grew in her understanding of diverse patient populations, including those from indigenous, immigrant, and refugee communities. Reflecting on her experience, Zenab remarked, "Working through IHS and learning more about the history and role of IHCSCV in the local community allowed me to see firsthand the positive impact that strong community resources can make on improving the healthcare experiences of individuals who face numerous barriers to healthcare due to overreaching institutional discrimination. Wherever I live and practice during residency and beyond, I hope to learn about the community resources available to local patients so that I can better serve patients in a holistic manner and contribute to similar efforts centered around capacity-building." She is grateful for the opportunity to complete this rotation that developed in her understanding so that she may incorporate practices that are mindful and respectful of indigenous communities in her future profession.