CDU Students Journey Abroad For Health Equity
During the month of March, two delegations of CDU students set out beyond our borders to pursue the University’s mission of creating a world without health disparities through their travels to Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
While in Cuba, CDU Master of Public Health students studied the country’s health system, which is internationally recognized for prioritizing primary prevention and health promotion as a health strategy. This universal and integrated model has had notable achievements in infectious disease, maternal and infant health, biopharmaceuticals, and internationalism.
The journey provides a unique opportunity to examine and consider how this model, or portions of it, could be used to support health equity in the United States. A Certificate of Completion was provided to students for their participation in lectures and site visits. The students who attended the trip are scheduled to present a report of their experience in early May.
CDU students and faculty who journeyed to the Dominican Republic participated in a Clinic Service Learning Trip. During their time there, students made daily treks through sugar cane fields to rural villages (“bateys”) and to semi-urban barrios in order to gain an understanding of local health disparities. These clinics also offered an opportunity for students to reach those in medical need with important services. The visit also included insightful cultural activities aimed to appreciate the diversity, history, and beauty of the Dominican Republic.
These two trips together, along with other excursions through the university, highlight the university’s dedication to supporting the “Global-International Experience” pillar of The CDU Advantage. CDU offers a global perspective through a robust international program while participating in global initiatives and consortiums.