In the Summer of 2019, I studied abroad for five weeks in Iringa, Tanzania. Through this intensive 9 credit , five-week program I was able to learn about critical East African health issues and the East African health care systems while also immersing myself in Tanzanian culture. My experiences in Tanzania were very impactful on my journey towards public health and learning about methods that can help improve health disparities.
While in Tanzania, I learned about research occurring throughout the African continent. I also had the opportunity to meet several public health officials who showed me how their research and conclusions led to implementation and greater impact. One of my favorite experiences on this trip was being able to use our public health communication skills we learned during class to create a health presentation on an important health message for a local primary school. My partner and I created a presentation on the importance of handwashing using Tanzania lingo and cultural influence.
