Why did you choose this practicum?
There was a SFS booth set up in the student center at Trinity. I would always check out study abroad booths hoping one would have a program that I was not only interested in but that I could do. I told the SFS representative that he likely didn't have a program for students interested in healthcare. That's when he told me about the Kenya Field Practicum and gave me a booklet of information about it. I was interested in healthcare and was about to finish up a biology degree. I hadn't really heard too much about the public health field before the program, but I thought the program would be good exposure and an opportunity to gain field experience.

What were you career aspirations?
I graduated in May 2008 with a B.S. in Biology, and I attended the program shortly afterwards. My plan at that moment was to work for a few years in the healthcare field or in biological research and then apply to medical school to become an infectious disease physician. My long-term goals were, and still are, to practice medicine and research infectious diseases in minority and lower-income communities in the U.S. and abroad, respectively. As a practitioner and researcher, I also would like to assist the U.S. government and the World Health Organization in controlling emerging infectious diseases and lowering the prevalence of infectious diseases world-wide

What did you gain from this practicum?
A cross-cultural public health field experience. At times, I can't believe that I went to Kenya and had that amazing experience. I am so happy that I had the opportunity to learn about another culture, to do a study that could have a positive impact on their lives, and to learn more about the wonderful field of public health.


What is your most profound or lasting memory from the program?
It is difficult to pin down one single memory from the program. I feel like I have so many wonderful memories from visiting bomas and conducting field surveys (I was honored to be invited into many people's homes) to volunteering at a local school (we gave a public health presentation to a classroom and I bonded with many of the students playing my first game of soccer with them, drinking Chai, and planting trees for their school) to the feeling I had the day my group presented our results to the community leaders (yes, a little bit nervous, but overall, happy that we had information to give them with clear cut results that would positively impact the community) to waking up with the sunrise and a clear view of  Mt. Kilimanjaro.

How did this program influence your career path?
I decided after the program that I absolutely had to get my Masters of Public Health as dual MD/MPH or earn the degrees successively. This SFS practicum gave me the field experience that I needed.

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