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Oaxaca, Mexico

Class of 2024
Major:
Neuroscience
My name is Adarra Smith and just started my senior year at SLU. I transferred to St. Lawrence last Fall to pursue the Neuroscience program and am very happy to have joined such a vibrant community in beautiful Northern New York.
Semester:
Summer 2024
Description

As a participant in the CFHI Global Health Education Program, I was immersed in a comprehensive clinical and cultural experience within a global community. My daily routine involved rotating through various clinical and public health sites for approximately 6-8 hours from Monday to Friday. Beyond this formal clinical and public health focus, I also attended lectures and weekly debrief sessions with the local team.

Placed in appropriately scoped and supervised health settings within sustainable Fair-Trade partnerships, local communities owned the educational narrative as I learned how they work towards health equity and social justice. This program offered me the unique opportunity to live with a homestay family and take daily Spanish language classes to fully immerse myself in Mexican culture.

The primary learning objectives and competencies I aimed to develop included a deep understanding of the country’s health realities and healthcare systems, an awareness of the country’s burden of disease, insight into morbidity and mortality within the patient populations encountered, and the development of intercultural humility and communication skills. This program redefined my perspectives and strengthened my commitment to global health ethics and best practices.

The southern state of Oaxaca is Mexico's most ethnically and linguistically diverse region. It boasts a lively craft and art scene, vibrant festivals, stunning architecture, and distinctive cuisine. Despite its rich cultural heritage, Oaxaca is one of the country’s most impoverished states, struggling with poor health and economic indicators, and contending with a challenging social landscape.
49.642022312774, -89.718750268221
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