INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE REPORT

Activities available:

Patient care
Public community health research
Clinical research
Basic science research may be available through Penn or Harvard

Opportunities appropriate for:

Clinical students
Preclinical students

1. Please describe your activities while abroad (eg, seeing patients, clinical research, public health project, etc.):
   I did a clinical research project on the use of traditional medical therapies amongst Pediatric inpatients. I hired a nurse to conduct 100 surveys for me regarding this issue. I also participated in rounds and assisted in clinical care in the inpatient ward.
   
   
2. Please describe the range of activities available, in addition to yours:
   Everything was possible. It is a busy ward and there are few doctors, so help is always needed. I did many LP's on babies, and helped during codes.
   
   
   
3. Would you recommend this institution to other Penn medical students? Why?
   Yes. The experience was great. I learned a great deal about HIV care and medicine sans labs, imaging studies, etc. I had the opportunity to do a lot without having to deal with the restrictions that we have here in the US. It was also great to see how medicine is practiced in another culture.
   
   
4. What did you not like?
   Nothing.
   
   
5. Is there an application process for this institution? How does one arrange a visit? Are there important dates to know about?
   I think that there is an official program now, whereas when I went, I simply had to contact
   Dr. Kline who helped me to set up the experience. He's a great guy and is very helpful, although the new program may be for underrepresented minorities. However, I had a
   friend who went this summer who did not go through the program, and she was able to set up the rotation with a lot of persistence.
   
   
6. What costs were associated with the trip, other than transportation. Please include institutional fees, housing costs, food, etc.:
   I had a grant from the Ford Foundation and the Africa Health Group. They gave me $3500. I think I spent about that much, but I didn't have to pay for housing
   (Baylor provided that). I also did a lot of traveling and bought a lot of stuff, so that may be a lot for 2 months. Costs are cheaper there than the US, even though it is the most expensive country in Africa.
   
   
7. Did you receive funding for this trip? If so, from whom and for how much? Please provide important information, such as contacts, application procedure, and due dates:
   Ford Foundation/Africa Health Group. I took a course in the History Department at Penn on African Health led by Dr. Steve Feierman. It is offered to medical
   students and social science graduate students who are interested in going to Africa to do a research project. After taking the course in the spring, you get funding to go to Africa to do a project. There are no restrictions, and he helps you to make contacts.
   
   
   
   
8. Would you agree to be contacted by other students interested in this site? If so, please give your name and contact information:
   David Chao
   Email: dchao@mail.med.upenn.edu
   Phone:

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