With the start of my last semester as an undergraduate student, I’ve spent some time reflecting on the experiences I’ve had over the course of my education. Particularly, I have been reminiscing about my BYU Global Health Internship in Rwanda during Summer 2018.
During my time there, we had the opportunity to work with administrative and clinical workers in various capacities. As a part of these experiences, we were able to see healthcare on both an individual and an institutional level. Rwanda has a unique healthcare system that differs from that of the United States in several ways. I was inspired by their emphasis on community health and had the wonderful opportunity to accompany community health workers on their visits to people in the area. My experiences with them helped me gain valuable insight into the importance of focusing on the needs of the patient, and not the illness itself. I was fortunate enough to utilize my ability to speak French on numerous occasions, which facilitated our communication and allowed me to better connect with people in different circumstances. With a focus on infection control protocol, we also spent time working on health and hygiene promotion to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections. We gave numerous presentations—both clinical workers and patients—about ways to reduce the risk of infection within a healthcare setting. These opportunities in Rwanda charted a course for my future career as they piqued my interest in public health, and more specifically, international healthcare.
The theme for BYU’s Center for International Studies is to “expand your world.” Since returning home, I have come to better understand that this theme doesn’t only refer to your time abroad, but also to the time spent after your international study is finished. My internship taught me to view healthcare from a broader, holistic perspective, and this point of view has inspired me to pursue a Master’s in Public Health in addition to my medical degree. I hope that this additional training will empower me to make a greater difference in the public health field during my medical career. For these reasons, I can attest that international academic opportunities have an amazing ability to impact someone’s world perspective and future goals.