GLOBAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
MEDICAL STUDENT TRIP FUNDRAISER
MEET SOME OF OUR STUDENTS
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VICTORIA MURRAY, Class of 2024​
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I am involved with global health because I believe that as physicians, we should be concerned about the health of all people, especially in an increasingly connected world. Within the realm of global health, access to rehabilitation, assistive devices, and prosthetic care in underserved populations is of particular interest to me, as I am currently considering the field of PM&R. I believe everyone deserves to experience the freedom to move within their abilities, and I hope to work to increase access to rehabilitation and assistive devices now and in the future.
CHILANDO MULENGA, Class of 2023
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My interest in global health is strongly influenced by my immigrant background. My interest was spurred even further when I visited my relatives, especially those in rural parts of Zambia. I was aware of how far my family members had to travel to receive some level of care. Even when they were cared for the quality, what they received is inadequate. As such, I lost a lot of relatives from chronic diseases those of which are well controlled in the US. Witnessing healthcare inequality made me my role and what I can do to stimulate change. Being part of BSOM’s Global Health Scholars Program gives me the opportunity to learn about my role as a future global health physician. Our classes give us the necessary tools to be prepared as an instrument of health in the global health sphere. I was hoping to put what I’ve learned to practice by traveling to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to work with The Luke Commission (TLC)for my Global Heath experience this past summer, however, the spread of COVID put a spanner in my travel plans. In the future, I plan on either going back home to Zambia or work with TLC.
LYNDSAY BOYD, Class of 2024​
President, Global Health Initiative
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I became involved in global health in 2015 when I began volunteering with an organization called MEDLIFE. After visiting Peru, I realized that I had a passion for serving the underserved. I want to work to create long-term sustainable changes in my community and abroad. I hope to empower local communities and provide resources to help in any way I can. At the moment, I have a strong interest in global surgery and would love to volunteer in that field in the future.
MORGAN COOLEY, Class of 2023
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I was first inspired to be a part of Global Health after learning about an organization called "Doctors Without Borders" while in high school. This organization seeks to send doctors to care for the world's most vulnerable populations and plays a critical role in saving lives during humanitarian crises. My interests in global health are primarily focused on health education and preventative care, particularly surrounding the issue of maternal and infant mortality in regions where individuals are at the highest risk. Global Health Initiative at BSOM has taught me so much about the ways we can help both locally and globally and how global health principles can be applied at home and abroad.
LAUREN BECKMEYER, Class of 2024
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Global health is important to serving populations in countries that struggle with access to basic healthcare, but it is also crucial to better understanding the culture behind a countries healthcare system. When we serve abroad, we must be attentive to the role of medicine in that country. Coming from the US we are taught that western medicine is the golden standard, which can become a problem when trying to serve people with diverse backgrounds and cultural relationships with medicine. The patient’s voice can be lost, and the quality of care can be compromised. So, by being culturally minded as well as educated in the functioning of other healthcare systems we can serve the global population as well as our local population better. There are extremely diverse patient populations in the US that repeatedly face systematic barriers and implicit biases that negatively impact their health, by becoming an advocate for global health we are acting to remove those barriers and control the implicit bias seen in health care at home and abroad.
RUTH ST FORT, Class of 2023
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I am a first-generation Haitian-American. I am very passionate about global health. My goal, in the future, is to open joint education centers and clinics in Haiti.
KENZIE LUNDQVIST, Class of 2024
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I joined Global Health Scholars because, for a long time now, I have considered myself to be a global citizen. I have studied abroad in the past and try to stay as multi-culturally competent as possible. This course so far has introduced me to more ways of life and to the idea of cultural humility. I am excited to be able to expand my identity from a global citizen to a global physician so that I can immerse myself in new cultures in order to stay humble while trying to help those in need.
PARVANEH SHADKAM-FARROKHI, Class of 2023
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The knowledge of medicine provides one with the gift to alleviate the suffering of others around the world. As the child of immigrants, I grew up navigating the American health system alongside my parents and was their healthcare advocate and translator when they needed it. I also grew up in a medically underserved community and quickly learned about the association between food deserts and chronic diseases. With my firsthand knowledge, I became dedicated to working with underserved/low-income communities and immigrants/refugees both at home and abroad. One of my goals is to establish a free clinic in a healthcare shortage area near where I settled down in the US. I also hope to do summer global health trips to the outskirts of my family's hometown in Iran, where I could work with people in rural areas that do not have regular access to healthcare. Aside from this, I would enjoy doing global health trips to areas of the world where I may be needed.
OLIVIA STANFORTH, Class of 2024
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I am a member of Global Health because I believe in a broad, multi-faceted outlook when considering the concept of healthcare. Experiencing new cultures and their unique values on health has not only immensely educated me, but has diversified my connection with people and opened my mindset as to what “care” means for others. I am thankful for everyone who has made Global Health Scholars possible! I feel elated to continue medical immersion trips in both new and familiar countries.
BRITTANY SHAW, Class of 2024​
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Striving to achieve health equity for people worldwide is an important component of Global Health and it is what attracted me to this field. It is exciting to be involved because my desire is to embody cultural humility while serving diverse populations both abroad and locally.
KUNAL GUPTA, Class of 2023
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I have been involved in global health since undergrad and am eager to continue working with underprivileged communities abroad that lack resources. In the past, I have traveled to Guatemala and seen firsthand the impact we can make on the lives of communities abroad. In the future, I would like to travel to underprivileged communities in Latin America and Africa. I am interested in the problem-solving nature of medicine and specifically am considering specializing in cardiology at the moment, but that could change. I would eventually like to use my training to impact the lives of communities both abroad and locally.
KELLY SPILLER, Class of 2022
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Hey everyone! My name is Kelly Spiller, and I am an MS4 applying to Integrated Plastic Surgery for residency. I am passionate about global health because I love learning and growing from different cultures. I am incredibly grateful for my education, and I am motivated to help those with fewer resources. Through Wright State’s Global Health Scholars program, I have traveled to Jamaica and am hoping to visit Argentina later this year. My goals for the future are to teach plastic and reconstructive surgeons around the world new techniques. After residency, my dream is to collaborate with international surgeons on complex pediatric and craniofacial surgeries.
WILLIAM WINTER, Class of 2022
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The best way to learn is to expose yourself to new and different experiences. The Global Health Scholars Program at Boonshoft School of Medicine gave me a platform to safely and effectively travel to Iquitos, Peru where I learned about the food, culture, language and ultimately was able to learn more about healthcare. I established friendships and memories that I will have for the rest of my life. I hope, in the future, to continue to use the skills I pick up through residency and medicine to further help the Global community, whether in Iquitos or someplace else.
EMILIA KALUTSKAYA, Class of 2025
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Coming to America as a refugee with my family and being a first-generation college and medical student inspired me to partake in Global Health. My family and I settled near a Slavic community in Cleveland, where I connected to those who come from similar backgrounds and experiences like mine. Therefore, in the future, I plan to continue practicing Global Health by helping refugees and immigrants. Additionally, I would love to practice in countries that my family and those from my community come from.
ERIKA NGUYEN, Class of 2025
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Hi! My name is Erika Nguyen, and my interest in global health stemmed from my background as a Vietnamese-American daughter of refugees. My parents' stories of fleeing Vietnam, growing up in foster homes in America, and the challenges they faced pushed me towards global health. I'm interested in refugee and migrant health, health disparities, and hope to dismantle barriers to healthcare as a physician. I also hope to integrate traveling with my career!
DAWN SZELTNER, Class of 2025
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I am interested in global health because I think that access to quality medical care is a basic human right and it’s unfortunately not afforded to everyone. I aspire to be a physician that works with others in the U.S. and abroad to ensure that gap is filled and to increase the amount of people that have access to care.
ILLANA SIEGAL, Class of 2022
I am a fourth-year medical student applying to integrated plastic and reconstructive surgery residency. My enduring interest in global health began in my high school Global Scholars Program, which inspired my International Relations degree in college. My passion grew immensely through global health experiences in Nicaragua, Israel, Cuba, and The Netherlands. As a BSOM Global Health Scholar, I visited Eswatini with The Luke Commission, an NGO founded by a BSOM alumnus, that provides free, comprehensive medical care to underserved Swazis. Furthermore, I have an upcoming 8-week rotation with the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics through the CDC Epidemiology Elective Program. I am grateful for BSOM’s global health education and strong preparation for me to promote equitable access to medical and surgical care worldwide in my career.​