Capacity Building
Our GHP is rooted in trusting, transparent relationships with our partners and a deep commitment to capacity building. Resource-rich, both clinically, and culturally in many ways in which we are not—from the art of the physical exam and history taking to that of finding creative solutions in resource-limited settings, to the bond of family and giving community spirit—our partners teach us something new every day. Rather than impose our resources and ideas onto their systems, we ask them what they need and help them develop the resources within their own systems as they see fit.
Testimonials
I want to thank you all for your good care during my visit to your hospital and for letting me see the majestic work you do with patients to help them maintain their health and that of their children. These lines will not be enough to express my gratitude and admiration for each person with whom I interacted during my stay—not only health personnel but all those who make up the family of your hospital. Thank you for helping me in my growth. By learning about systems and things that we do not have in my country, seeing things I had only seen in books, participating in scientific conferences, contributing with my knowledge and the methods used by my school, I have had a very rewarding experience. Thank you for your humanism. I would have liked to stay longer and perhaps be able to contribute more to patient care.
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Maylelin Laureano, Ob-Gyn PGY 4 from Dominican Republic
My overwhelming gratitude to the Global Health Program manifests in a strong desire to “pay it forward.” The program motivated me to develop the tools needed to help others in a meaningful way. The program was multidimensional in every respect, involving an impressive scope of elements including curriculum and training in internal medicine, infectious diseases, biostatistics; entanglements with ethical issues and cultural interplay; exposure to a network of new people and ideas; novel perspectives of collaboration and teamwork; and pure professional development. My colleagues and I all feel that the only way of expressing our gratitude is to help those around us. The sense of responsibility we felt on the elective has carried over from the humanistic work we observed into the humanistic work to which we are now committed. That deep sense of connection drives us forward. Read the entire reflection: Five Years Later
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Albert Trondin, Global Health Program alumni, PGY-4 in Neurosurgery in San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
Over the last seven weeks in the Intensive Care Unit and Gastrointestinal Lab, I have been immersed in a space filled to the brim with things for me to learn. I have gained exposure to many diseases uncommon in Vietnam, learned how to monitor outpatients with gastrointestinal and liver diseases, and become well-versed in teamwork. This program has been a wonderful experience that has contributed meaningfully to my career and personal development. I can see that my Vietnamese patients face many disadvantages in terms of medical equipment, physical conditions, and treatment methods. After this trip, I will share all the knowledge and procedures I have gained with my colleagues, namely how to work as part of a team and the importance of continuing language skill improvement toward staying up-to-date with current medical knowledge. I hope that I can contribute to further developing the Global Health Program in the future. Read the entire reflection: New Insights
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Dr. Nguyen Huyen Chau, Global Health Scholar from Vietnam
With help from my supervisors, my knowledge of autoimmune and rheumatic diseases grew day by day, especially regarding vasculitis such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and giant cell arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica, all of which are very rare in Vietnam. I was very impressed by the outpatient infusion center at Danbury Hospital, which provides diuretic, antibiotic, and biologics infusions. These treatments can limit unnecessary days of prolonged hospitalization, as well as the number of in-patients. I will transform all these experiences and the knowledge I gained from them into concrete actions in my work, toward making positive contributions to my hospital and department. I will perform my daily duties and tasks with the faithfulness and kindness I received in the USA. It has been a tremendous gift. I am grateful for the loving support throughout my three months here, and express my appreciation for the Global Health Program. Read the entire reflection: A Marvelous Three Months
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Dr. Nguyá»…n Thi Kim Thanh, rheumatologist, Global Health Scholar from Vietnam
Programs
