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Auburn University Outreach Global
Website: Outreach Global
Report prepared by: Mac-Jane Crayton, Ph.D
Coordinator, Outreach Global
The Health Care Service-Learning Program in Greece, organized by Auburn University (AU) Outreach Global in partnership with AU Colleges of Education, Nursing and Pharmacy, in collaboration with Doctors of the World, Greece aimed to provide valuable healthcare services to underserved communities in Greece while offering an immersive learning experience for students. This report presents an overview of the program, including its objectives, implementation, outcomes, and sustainability goals.
Program Overview:
The Greece healthcare program was designed to address the healthcare needs of underserved communities while providing students with valuable learning experiences and cultural immersion. It was a collaborative effort involving Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Education, partnering with local healthcare organizations - Doctors of the World, Greece, and community leaders - the mayor and deputy mayor of Athens. The program aimed to improve access to healthcare, enhance student learning, and promote sustainable community development.
Objectives:
- To deliver essential healthcare services to vulnerable populations in Greece.
- To provide students with practical learning opportunities and cultural immersion.
- To foster interprofessional collaboration between nursing and pharmacy students.
- To enhance participants' understanding of global health challenges and solutions.
- To contribute to sustainable community development through health education and empowerment.
80% of student participants in the Greece Healthcare service-learning program responded that they have traveled abroad prior to this program. Only 20% of participants have never traveled abroad.
The demographics of the participants in the healthcare program in Greece were diverse, representing various medical-related academic backgrounds and colleges within Auburn University.
Academic Backgrounds
While the majority of program participants were Nursing students in their senior year, each participant shared the common goal to broaden their healthcare experience and serve the community while learning about the Greek culture.
Departments/Colleges
The participants came from different academic disciplines, with a significant representation from nursing and pharmacy programs. Additionally, students from other health-related fields also took part, contributing to a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare and demonstrating the collaborative nature of the program and its ability to attract students from various educational backgrounds.
Testimonial
"I saw this as an incredible opportunity to engage abroad which has been a dream of mine since coming to Auburn, and through this service-learning program abroad, I can have the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture and through that get medical (nursing) experience and serve the community through the things I have learned while in nursing school."
- Nursing Student
The program was executed over a period of 10 days from June 23 - July 2, 2023. A total of 42 students from Auburn University Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and other departments participated, accompanied by 11 faculty members and Support Staff. The program benefited from strong collaborations with Doctors of the World. This partnership facilitated effective program implementation, resource mobilization, and community engagement.
100%
of program participants shared that it was eye-opening and important medical services provided to the community.
100%
of volunteers were enthusiastic about the medical health provided to refugees and community members in Greece.
1. Service Delivery: Following the directives of the Doctors of the World, Greece, our students, faculty, and staff were grouped into 3 camps: Group A, B, and C. Based on the activity for each day, each group was assigned tasks where they participated in health clinic visits, medical, history examinations, and medical services. Although many of the activities each day were more observatory for AU nursing, pharmacy, healthcare administration, and biomedical students, the program fostered interprofessional collaboration and facilitated a holistic approach to patient care, promoting teamwork and an empathetic approach to healthcare.
2. Cultural Immersion: Participants engaged in cultural immersion experiences, such as language learning, exploring local traditions and museum visits to the Acropolis and Delphi, and interaction with the community members. These immersions deepened their understanding of Greek culture, enhanced their cross-cultural competence, and fostered a sense of empathy and cultural sensitivity.
3. Health Education and Empowerment: Doctors of the World, Greece facilitated healthcare orientation and showed historical videos that provided insight into the history and services provided by Doctors of the World. During the program, the prevalent cases examined were homelessness, mental health, root canal treatment, STD/HIV, STI, pediatric, and general practitioner requests.
Overall, the Greece healthcare program provided transformative learning experiences for students. Compared to the Ghana healthcare program which was the hands-on approach, the Greece service learning focused more on students observing and job shadowing Doctors of the World, Greece. In Ghana, the prevalent cases were eye issues and headaches, compared to Greece where the prevalent issue was mental health and refugee-related issues, which resulted in a high percentage of homelessness. Additionally, the majority of patients in Ghana were female, whereas, in Greece, more men came for medical assistance.
Program Outcomes:
1. Enhanced Student Learning: Participants gained invaluable practical experience, developed clinical skills, and deepened their understanding of global health challenges. The interprofessional collaboration and cultural immersion experiences enriched their learning journey, preparing them for future healthcare practice in diverse settings.
2. Sustainable Partnerships: The program established collaborative partnerships with local healthcare organizations and community leaders. These partnerships not only facilitated program implementation but also created a foundation for continued support and future initiatives, ensuring the sustainability of the program's impact.
What Next?
The Outreach Global office aims to continue expanding such interdisciplinary collaboration and provide more opportunities for AU students, faculty, and staff across the globe.
The Outreach Global office expresses its gratitude to its campus partners - the College of Nursing, the Harrison College of Pharmacy, and the Department of Elementary Education for supporting the 2023 Greece healthcare program. Special thanks to Doctors of the World, Greece for their unwavering support, collaboration, and shared vision in advancing healthcare and community development. Their contributions have been invaluable, and we look forward to continued partnership and collective efforts in future initiatives to engage more globally while learning and immersing in diverse multicultural experiences.
For questions, inquiries, and requests for the service-learning program, please contact:
Elizabeth Ivy Quansah, Ph.D., MBA
Director
Outreach Global
116 O.D. Smith Hall, Auburn, AL36849
Phone: +1 (334) 844-5716
eid0001@auburn.edu
Olivia Houlden
Administrator
Outreach Global
114 O.D. Smith Hall, Auburn, AL36849
Phone: +1 (334) 844-5709
oph0007@auburn.edu
