The course “Explorations in Global Health” has allowed me to analyze my field experience more fully, and from new perspectives. It is surprising to me how much I have learned about my field experience after the initial experience itself. While I was in Senegal, I was just trying to survive in a way; I took everything day-by-day, focusing on the tasks at hand. I did not have the mental capacity in those moments to analyze and integrate all of my experiences. Thankfully, this class has given me the opportunity to unpack my experience bit by bit, and even now I am still evaluating and dissecting my field experience.

            Throughout the course I have been shocked and inspired by the experiences of my peers.  I find it particularly inspiring to be in a class filled with individuals who have experienced global health problems first hand, and have a diverse range of perspectives and experiences; this allows our class to be so dynamic and yet grounded. I find it especially powerful when my peers use their field experiences as an example for a point, which they are trying to make. It helps me to relate their experience to my own, and often reminds me of a similar set of circumstances which I experienced. I am constantly reminded in class that there is so much to learn, so much to see in this world, so many problems, so many health issues, but at the same time there are solutions, and people like my peers in this class who want to devote some part of their lives to fighting for global health equity.  This inspires me. It has encouraged me not to hide away my field experiences, but to share them with others: the good and the bad. Hearing the passion which many in this class have towards the field of global health inspires me to consider bigger possibilities for the future of global health as a whole, and even in St. Louis, Senegal. Maybe these problems are not too big for me, maybe I can make a difference in global health, and if not abroad, then at the least domestically.

            Taking this course in conjunction with actively partaking in and following the political campaigns and viewpoints of the coming election, has led me to view health care from a new standpoint. The issue of universal health care has been big during this electoral year. Both Conservatives and Liberals have heavily debated whether or not to make health care universal. One can examine universal health care in the U.S., by looking abroad at what has and hasn’t worked for other countries. Many examine the success of other developed countries when debating universal health care. But, if the health care of developing countries is examined in such great detail as we do in this class, the issue of universal health care may become more apparent. In many if not all of the countries where we did our field experiences, health care is sub-par in comparison to the health care of the U.S., but in many of these countries access to health care is universal. One might claim that because health care is universal in these countries, the health care is sub-par. But, correlation does not imply causation, and I believe that it is perfectly possible to have both excellent and universal health care. It seems odd to me that countries like Argentina and Chile have universal health care, but the U.S. does not. I’ll be honest: I used to think that universal health care was not the right option for the U.S., and that a competing medical market would allow the U.S. to advance with medical cures and discoveries, but in reality this only precludes the most needy from receiving health care. I saw the drastic effects of this play out in Senegal (which does not have universal health care) in cases where young Talibé boys were denied access to health care, and massive tumors grew on there necks until they were the size of balloons, and finally caused them to die. Unfortunately, if they had been wealthy and enfranchised citizens, then they would have been treated right there in Senegal in the capital city of Dakar, and their stories might have ended differently. Health care empowers, and as such it should be universally granted to all citizens regardless of health status, wealth or background. This course and my field experience have brought me to a place where I understand the meaning of global health more fully, and that means that I think in terms of health both domestically and abroad, and that even though many believe global health to be an outside issue, it is very much present right here in the United States. I believe that health care is a human right, and that everyone should be allowed access to health care both here and abroad.

            This class has also stimulated me to learn more about the diverse aspects of policy and global health interventions. I have begun to be able to distinguish what kinds of policies are effective for a range of situations; before this class I was terrified by policies and did not understand anything about policy analysis and managements. Now, I feel much more capable of examining daunting policies and plans and analyzing their potential and effectiveness. I have also learned about the Global Burden of Disease, and how this can influence policymaking. Additionally, learning about the PAG has influenced how I am currently developing smaller policies and interventions in a project that I am managing at Lansing Residential Center.  By using the PAG, I have decided to use different methods of teaching to more effectively communicate to the girls at Lansing about safe sexual health practices, and using more interactive approaches to potentially change the sexual behaviors of these young adults, many of who already have had abortions, children, and STDs when they come into this facility. It is certainly challenging working with these young women, but I feel that I have been empowered to make a difference by the inspiration this class often gives me when I hear my peers chatting about how they want to start an NGO or of success stories with global health groups on and off campus. My peers, my professor, and these reflections have helped me to learn not only about the field of global health but also about my global health experience and myself.

            The diverse perspectives of the students in this class are really what make Explorations to Global Health unique to any other class at Cornell. It is composed of students who have experienced diverse obstacles, and experiences in the field, but also share the common experience of working for two months in difficult circumstances in a foreign country. These experiences ground us and unite us but also make us realize our potential to learn. Whenever I think I know what goes on in the field of global health, because of my past experiences, I am more often than not awakened by my peers to understand that there is always more out there, more to learn, more obstacles, and more to fix. I think that no one person can completely understand the field of global health. Only when we come together with diverse perspectives and experiences can we begin to integrate this far-stretching field. This has made me realize the importance of diversity; without it we cannot begin to attack the diverse range of global health problems. This is why committees and NGOs and policy-making groups should all strive to seek a diversity of opinions, not limiting an intervention to the insight of a few, but gaining the advantage of diverse forms of knowledge. People who want to work in the field of global health should have experience in working with diverse peoples and backgrounds, and should experience multiple methods of practicing health care and medicine, and multiple cultures. This is important in order to prevent cultural insensitivities in the countries where policies are implemented and prevent the historical mistakes of ignoring peoples and cultures (like the smallpox vaccination campaign in India). Global health workers should understand both biomedical and traditional views of the body and health care, and should learn to accept that their view may not always be the most appropriate or correct view.

            One example of a strongly held perspective, which I have, is that cultural sensitivity and awareness should always be a part of any intervention or solution. As an aspiring Anthropology graduate student, I highly value the diversity of perspectives and cultures, and uphold the right of all peoples to have free will, and to choose what is best for them and for their families.  I have found that some people in this class to do not seem to value free will, and cultural and religious freedom and expression the same way.  Some argue that an individual’s freedom can be curtailed if it impedes on the progress of society. For example, they argue that if a global health policy implementation is time-sensitive, then the freedoms of individuals can be ignored in order to permit timely and effective implementation of policy. This was the view of the Westerners who ignored the Indian culture and free will of the people who wanted to practice variolation instead of receiving a smallpox vaccination. To me attitudes like these should be ancient attitudes of the past, which we must learn from; the devastating effects of intolerance leave an indelible mark on society. We cannot ignore this; to do so would be irresponsible and selfish in my opinion. Free will should be respected and appreciated regardless of what is at stake for outside onlookers. I learned to manage my perspective in interactions with my peers through debate (like the child mortality debate), discussion (like in the discussion on scaling up) and actively listening to the opinions of those who would disagree with me. Doing so has been a practice in cultural sensitivity in itself. Understanding that I may not always agree with people, but managing somehow to work out solutions which take into account the opinions of others is a skill which I have come to harness in these situations.

            Connecting and integrating what I have learned in the core sessions with what I did in my field experience has been the key to having meaningful reflections. Allowing myself the time and opportunity to integrate all of these aspects has given me the chance to learn more about my experience, my future endeavors, and myself. In particular, the core session when Dr. Balu came and discussed with us SVYM and health care in India was particularly inspiring. The way this man has dedicated his life to the well being of individuals in India is awe-inspiring. I commend his integration of cultural practice (like Ayurveda) with biomedical health care, and his approach to health and well-being.  He addresses the social issues, which are at the root of health problems, and provides a great example of how one man can affect change from the grassroots-up. I was also motivated to continue to seek answers to my global health field experience after listening to the founders of Medic Mobile. These two young men really exemplify that young people are not bound by their age, and that great ideas and a passion to help are the key ingredients to success in the field of global health. Thinking about these speakers, and my interests in medicine, global health, culture and society have led me to rethink future career choices. I know from courses that I have taken in the past, like Introduction to Women’s Health and Plagues and People that I have a great interest in medicine, and am intrigued by the fields of women’s health and epidemiology. I think that I can integrate all of these interests into a future career somehow, and be successful at it. This class has allowed me to rediscover my passion for health care and analyze it from a different perspective. I am not so daunted by the atrocities that I viewed and experienced first-hand in Senegal. I am even considering going back to Senegal (a place I swore that I would never return to) in order to address one of two issues: women’s health in relation to Islam or the Talibé problem. I am currently in the process of applying for a grant from Natural Geographic in order to further research one of these two issues, and then empower others with what I learn in order to change the status quo in Senegal and places like it. I am less jaded now, compared to when I had just returned from Senegal. I felt almost scarred by my field experience, and now, finally, I think that I have been able to heal those scars, and even become re-impassioned and excited for a future in the field of global health.