Volunteers Around the World
The Ohio State University
Spring semester 2015 syllabus
Meeting Hours: Sundays, 3-4pm, weekly
Classroom Locations: Hitchcock 131 and 31. (See under specific days for specific locations)
Email: volunteersaroundtheworld.osu@gmail.com
Description
Suneeta Krishnan describes healthcare as an “interplay of many factors, including the legal, social,
political, and physical environments; economic forces; access to food, safe water, sanitation, and
affordable preventive/medical care; nutrition; cultural beliefs and human behaviors; and religion;
among others.” How do you compare this definition in America versus other international locations?
Does the factor of a “developing” nation influence your perception of what international medical care
is like, and if so what is the media’s role in that? This semester VAW will encounter some of those
questions as well as the other complex facets of international medicine via open dialogue and critical
discussion. In addition to this, we will explore the technical components of establishing mobile clinics,
such as taking vitals and acquiring the appropriate pharmaceuticals.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the semester, participants should:
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1
Gain a better understanding of healthcare, the important role of culture, and the technical
practices of running a mobile clinic.
Challenge and erase stereotypes and stigmas surrounding the medical
“hopelessness” in developing nations.
Understand through our shared human experience that we all have the ability to connect with
one another despite differences
Understand the theoretical ideas behind global medicine and healthcare, the technical
background (ie. procedures, vitals, medications, etc.) with running a mobile health clinic, and
the fundamentals of grant writing and fundraising.
Become knowledgeable enough in the fore mentioned categories to give
presentations to local high schools.
Become confident in speaking at least a key set of Spanish phrases
Learn about the fundamentals of grant writing and follow it up with successful large and small
scale fundraisers.
Volunteers Around the World
The Ohio State University
Requirements
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Attend and participate in all classes. Attendance on the trip is mandatory.
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Class begins at 3pm sharp.
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One excused absence will be allowed to pass. Email or text both president and vice president 24
hours in advance for approval (the earlier the better). If you are absent, you must complete two
tasks:
1) Submit a 200 word reflection on a reading assigned to you by email,
2) Post one short reading response with one question (a discussion question or general
inquiry) to the Facebook group by 6PM on Tuesday.
Syllabus 2015
Week #
1
Date
January 25th
Hitchcock 131
Topic
Global healthcare:
Part 1
What is healthcare?
Spanish quiz
2
February 1st
Hitchcock 131
Global health care:
Part 2
How does culture
affect healthcare?
3
February 8th
Hitchcock 031
Being a volunteer:
what is your role?
Description/Readings
Introduction.
What is healthcare and global
healthcare?
What influences the healthcare
system/ medicine?
Poverty. Global poverty.
The backbone of global medicine.
Thinking critically about programs and
“fixes?”
How does culture affect these things?
Thinking critically about global
medicine and intervention.
Cultural humility vs. cultural
competence
Cultural practices versus Westernized
medical practices.
Reading:
In The Eyes of Others by Caroline
AbuSada (google it, you will find a
free pdf online)
What are your motivations for
volunteering?
Place of privilege.
Volunteerism.
Ethics of International medical
practice.
Idea of policy not poverty.
What is an NGO? The ethics behind
an NGO.
Humanitarian aid.
Doctors Without Borders
Volunteers Around the World
The Ohio State University
4
February 15th
Hitchcock 131
Peru
Plan Fun Days (?)
5
February 22nd
Hitchcock 031
March 1st
Hitchcock 131
Medication
7
March 8th
Hitchcock 131
8
March 22nd
Hitchcock 031
9
March 29th
Hitchcock 131
10
April 5th
Cont. education day
prep
Spanish: vocabulary,
conjugation rules,
basic sentence
structure
Fundraising:
choosing groups
Spanish: review,
practice,
medical Spanish
Fundraising: Grants
& Other; meet with
group
Logistics
Spanish: practice
medical
phrases
Public Health-project
presented
Fundraising
Mobile clinic: Vitals,
6
Prepare for
Education day
Reading:
To Hell with Good Intentions
http://www.swaraj.org/illich_hell.htm
History, Culture & National structure
How there governmental and
healthcare system has developed.
Medical System: doctors, insurance,
distribution of healthcare, access
Ethics
Assign everyone with assigned
medication list to come up with a
presentation for next week
One page synopsis on reading
assigned (In The Eyes of Others by
Caroline AbuSada)
Group presentations
Make a booklet
Come up with skits, posters
Think of interactive ways that will get
through to children
One page synopsis on reading due (In
The Eyes of Others by Caroline
AbuSada)
Education – roles assigned
Follow up on fundraising process
Blood pressure, blood sugar, height,
weight
Vaccinations; travel safety;
reminders;
Spanish quiz
Ppte Presentation
Volunteers Around the World
The Ohio State University
Hitchcock 131
11
April 12TH
Hitchcock 131
12
April 19th
Hitchcock 131
Pharmacy, Clinic
layout
PH – practice
Education – practice
skits etc…
Practice Clinic using
Spanish
Education practice
PH practice
Review final logistics
Most common illnesses and
corresponding medications. Practice
scenarios.
Medication quiz
Vaccinations; travel safety; contact
information; packing medications,
departure/arrival info; passports
Important dates to remember:
1. Deposit due dates:
• January 25, 2015--$600
• February 15, 2015--$600
• March 27, 2015-Remainder (variable, depends on price of plane ticket + remainder of
$1600 program fee)
2. Medication fees due April 10th
3. Campus Parc dates this semester:
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Sunday, Jan. 25 vs. Indiana @ 10 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 29 vs. Maryland @ 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 11 vs. Penn State @ 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 vs. Nebraska @ 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 1 vs. Purdue @ TBD
Sunday, March 8 vs. Wisconsin @ TBD