An Environment Where Medicine Is Truly Medicine

Written by Russell Himmelstein, UVMLCOM Class of 2020

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As my first week in Thailand comes to a close, many thoughts are buzzing around my mind. I am in awe of the extreme hospitality and sense of togetherness that Thai people have for one another and especially for their guests. The country and its cultures are truly beautiful. The dean of the medical school, Dr. Menn, treated us to lunch, dinner, and hot springs upon our arrival.

Journeying on the Global Health Pathway: Stretching the Boundaries of Where I Call Home

Written by Naomi Koliba and Michael Larner, UVMLCOM Class of 2023

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Journeying on the Global Health Pathway is a new series featuring stories of the most recent wave of students enrolled in the Global Health Pathway at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine.

Journeying on the Global Health Pathway: Honoring My Families

Written by Victor M. Abraham II, UVMLCOM Class of 2023

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My mother is an Internal Medicine physician who graduated from Hahnemann Medical College in 1991. Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, she fled her home country as a child due to the authoritarian regime and sought refuge in America. Soon after her arrival, her father died in a car accident, leaving her mother a widow and the sole caregiver for her, her three brothers, and her ill mother. My mother fought through great hardship to eventually become a physician.

Global Health and the Arts

Written by Tendai Machingaidze, MD, Global Health Program Site Director for the University of Zimbabwe

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The efficacy of the arts in medicine is evident around the globe. The 2019 WHO Health Evidence Network Synthesis Report 67: What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review clearly demonstrates a growing evidence-base that the arts positively influence psychological, physiological, social, and behavioral determinants of health and thus improve health promotion, health communication, and health outcomes. It is at the kaleidoscopic intersection of arts and medicine that body, mind, and soul can be treated together in a holistic, patient-centered approach to healthcare.

Linde Healthcare Educators Without Borders: An Evolution

Written by Dr. Majid Sadigh, Director of the Nuvance Health Global Health Program

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It is the dawn of a new era for our Global Health Program. Linde Healthcare Educators Without Borders (LHEWB) has officially been launched under the leadership of the LHEWB Executive Committee as well as the generous sponsorship and support of Linde. We are grateful to have instilled momentous energy and enthusiasm among our international and domestic partners as well as stakeholders around the world, and thank each and every one of you for your part in launching this powerful initiative.

The Edge

Written by Isaac de la Bruere, UVMLCOM Class of 2022

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A river of sweat is slowly trickling down the small of my back, gathering tributaries from the rolling hills formed by my scapulae. My collared shirt is damp in several areas, even though I have an undershirt on today. The heat and humidity are unforgiving at this time of day. I adjust the stethoscope around my neck as we walk into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A blast of cool air greets me. There are fourteen beds, each one supporting the form of a human being in various states of consciousness and positioning. There are no individual rooms, or even curtains between the patients. Only intravenous stands and banana bags of medications and saline.

Letter From the Editor: Time For a Global Health Academy

Written by Mitra Sadigh, Writer, Editor, and Researcher at the Nuvance Health Global Health Program

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In this national and collective political landscape that separates people and communities on seemingly every possible divide, our program celebrates diversity in all forms, from field to faith, nationality to identity. What unites us is a commitment to fighting for a world where every human being has the right to health and well-being.

Finding Home: Part III

Ray Mak, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Class of 2022

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Presently, leprosy patients at Phud Hong Leprosy Center are free to leave and see their loved ones in the outside world, but many choose to stay because they are unable to reintegrate into society after the years of trauma and rejection. Like physical scars, the emotional scars last forever.

Finding Home: Part II

Written by Ray Mak, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Class of 2022

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Independence is valued in American culture, rendering it acceptable to settle down far from home. On the other hand, maintaining strong family ties is a common theme in Asian cultures. From speaking with Thai medical students, I found that they often feel homesick while studying at Walailak. However, one reason why many choose to study there is that the school strives to train doctors from underserved areas of Southern Thailand so that graduates can return to their hometown and serve the community they grew up in.

Finding Home: Part I

Written by Ray Mak, UVMLCOM Class of 2022

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Where is home for you? If I had to pin a physical location, I would consider Southern California my home. Though I only lived there for four years in college, they were the best years of my life. I felt truly at home. For some, home isn’t defined by where you grow up, how long you’ve lived in a particular place, or where your parents chose to settle down. Rather, it’s measured in the love and safety to nurture your authentic self. For me, home is not held in a physical space, but within the circles of people I hold close to me. Home truly is where the heart is and unexpectedly, I left a piece of my heart in Thailand this summer.