Interested in a Global Experience?

Written by: Kennedy Thompson

Are you interested in traveling abroad during your time as an undergrad? Have you also been told that it is difficult for students on a pre-health track to find meaningful health experiences abroad that won’t be looked down upon? If so, then this blog is for you. I will be discussing ways in which students who are pursuing a health career can obtain global experiences that are ethical and can serve to enrich their undergraduate experience.  

Traditional Study Abroad 

Northeastern offers traditional semester study abroad at various Universities around the world. It is recommended that students who study abroad start planning as early as possible to ensure they are on the right track, have enough space in their academic plan and have as many options as possible in where they want to study. It also helps to keep in mind that many professional health schools don’t accept pre-reqs that are taken outside of the US. All though there is much to consider, studying abroad during your time in college is possible and is a great way to see the world and spend extended time living in another country. 

Global Co-ops 

Northeastern offers an array of global co-op opportunities. Pre-health students can do any type of co-op they like but it is common for students to pursue clinical, research, hospital admin, or public health co-ops. Often students do some type of mixture. When thinking about global health related co-ops, it is important to note how to remain ethical. If doing clinical work in another country, it is important to keep in mind that you are not a licensed medical practitioner. Therefore, nothing that you aren’t allowed to do in the United States should you be doing in other countries. All health professional schools greatly look down upon this.  

 Dialogue of Civilizations 

Northeastern offers unique programs titled Dialogue of Civilizations which are summer classes offered in either summer 1 or summer 2. These classes are offered in another country and range in the types of classes offered. Currently, there are an array of programs that are related to healthcare, medicine, and public health. A few examples are: Global Health, Medicine, And Longevity in Greece; Health, Systems and Services in Ghana; Healthcare and Culture in the United Kingdom etc. This is a great alternative to traditional study abroad and allows students to take unique classes that may only be offered on dialogues.  

Service-Learning Trips 

Service learning is one of Northeastern’s core values. “Students engage in hands-on service to address community needs, learning by applying course concepts to their experiences, and reflecting on those experiences back in the classroom”. There are various courses that offer this type of learning but also ways for students to participate on Service-Learning Trips through clubs at Northeastern. For example, students can go on an SLT through the clubs MedLife or Medical Brigades which are part of a larger overarching organization. These clubs provide students with the opportunity to travel to different countries and work with the communities there to reduce health disparities, volunteer etc. 

https://cssh.northeastern.edu/csgs/experiential-academics/service-learning/ 

Alternate Spring Break 

Another option that allows students to obtain a global experience is to go on an alternative spring break. “ASB places emphasis on partnering with organizations with established roots in their communities who center their missions around the voices of community members and supports the organizations’ existing efforts in their community”. These trips allow students to volunteer alongside community organizations and learn about topics that they are passionate about such as various social issues, affordable housing, youth education etc.  

https://csce.northeastern.edu/programs/alternative-breaks/ 

In summation, pursuing global experiences as a pre-health student is an incredible way to gain perspective, learn from different communities, grow as an individual and as a student, and gain invaluable experiences that will only serve to enrich your application and who you are as a future health professional. Northeastern offers many great opportunities to pursue a global experience!