University Of New Mexico
Introduction to Global Health: Nepal
 
This program is a month-long saturation experience in Global Health in Nepal. It is aimed toward medical students, residents and faculty, as well as non-academic health professionals who have interest in working in the Developing World. The curriculum and itinerary have been refined through more than a decade of collaborative work by academicians and health/ development professionals from the U.S. and Nepal. Our focus is primarily on core concepts in Global Health and international development, both generally and as they apply specifically to Nepal. While participation does not require previous experience abroad, the program is designed to be particularly interesting and useful for those who have had some degree of relevant experience. We approach issues from multiple perspectives, including reading and discussing currently relevant texts and articles, meeting with health and development professionals, and visiting hospitals, clinics, NGO offices, and field sites. While we address issues in the specific context of Nepal, most of what we study is generally applicable to resource poor areas around the globe. In addition to providing an educational experience for course participants, we aim to assist locals in projects which adhere to appropriate development paradigms. Examples include developing a simple computer-based primary care database for Community Health Workers in Tibetan refugee camps, training acute care physicians in the use of clinical bedside ultrasound, and applications of telemedicine. We maintain focus throughout on local needs and resources, and appropriate and locally sustainable technologies. The trip will be loaded with unique experiences in Travel Medicine, Tropical Medicine, and Altitude/ Wilderness Medicine. It will also provide an in-depth look at the remarkably diverse people, cultures, and geography/ natural history of Nepal. All photos by D. Wachter