The Global Health Academic Concentration
Follow UC San Diego School of Medicine's GHAC students around the world.
My time at the National Children’s Hospital in Hanoi was transformative. Days started early with a quick walk through the bustling hospital grounds, past vendors selling sticky rice and pho. By 8 AM, we were in scrubs reviewing the OR schedule. I worked closely with Dr. Quang, a pediatric urologist whose surgical precision was matched … Continue reading Clinical Insights from a Pediatric Urology Rotation in Vietnam
I write to you from Phuket: my last weekend in Thailand, spent in the bluest waters I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes. Imagine my gratitude when I saw my first coral reef, a 30-minute snorkeling session I lazily floated through while mulling over the state of the world. Would these reefs be here … Continue reading Lessons Learned from my Research Journey in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Hello, everyone! As I prepare to head back to the United States later this week, I find myself reflecting on my time here in Gaborone with a mix of gratitude, accomplishment, and a hint of longing for home. These past six weeks have been a whirlwind of research, cultural immersion, and exploration, pushing me outside … Continue reading Reflecting on My Time in Gaborone: A Journey of Growth and Discovery
My week in Mae Sot was short-lived and well-filled. Mae Sot is a resilient transient-dense town on the Thai side of the Thailand-Myanmar borderline. It was my first time seeing an open border, identical houses on either side of a shallow river that I would have mistaken as different neighborhoods of the same town--if not … Continue reading A Week in Mae Sot, Thailand
Hello! It’s been such a whirlwind transitioning to a new place. I’ve been learning and growing each day since I’ve been in Gaborone. It’s been a mild winter; The contrast between warm, sunny days and cool mornings and nights. My evenings are spent soaking up some vitamin D. My free time on the weekends has … Continue reading Gaborone | A Day in the Life
When I was applying for medical schools, I remember being captivated by a UC San Diego GHAC video where students described their ability to ‘engage in global health work in your own backyard’. As an out-of-state student passionate about global health, this resonated deeply with me. The ability to integrate global health work so closely … Continue reading Engaging in Global Health: My Experience in Tijuana
Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra Eai? Tudo bem? (What’s up? All good?) I’m back again to blog about my unforgettable summer – technically, winter - in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. (Disclaimer: unfortunately, my phone took a dive in Hawai’i a few days after I returned from Brazil, so I sadly lost the hundreds of … Continue reading WhatsApp Amigos- Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
What amazed me most when we first arrived in Quito was how close we were to the sky. At approximately 10,000ft above sea level, Quito is the second highest capital in the world, sitting among the clouds that float over the Andes. In the early mornings, a thick layer of clouds would roll over the … Continue reading From Quito to the Amazon: An Unforgettable Adventure
My GHAC summer research in Ecuador as part of the ESPINA project was an incredible professional, academic and personal experience! I began working with Dr. Suarez during the school year to help with a project related to pesticide exposure and inflammatory biomarkers as part of the ESPINA project. My interest in Dr. Suarez’s research was … Continue reading Exploring Quito: Culture and Science in Summer Research
One of the best things about having a summer birthday is that I always am surprised by where the next year takes me. This year, I got to spend my 25th birthday in Ecuador, making it one of my best yet. To have a day I would remember for a lifetime, I decided to hike … Continue reading Hiking Volcán Cotopaxi: My 25th Birthday Experience