University students spend break assisting others’ medical needs

University pre-health students traveled to the Four Corners area to shadow Navajo providers over spring break. Four Corners, Utah, March 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Southern Utah University, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Instead of spending spring break resting or going on vacation, students from Southern Utah University, Dixie State University, and Snow College helped others in meaningful medical ways. In total, 46 students traveled with the Rural Health Scholars Program to underserved communities in Nicaragua, Las Vegas, and the Four Corners area.

Several students ventured out of the county to experience rural areas of Nicaragua, where they assisted in health clinics with impoverished populations.

SUU pre-medical student Alyssa Brown assists with patients in Nicaragua. Undated. | Photo courtesy of Southern Utah University, St. George News

“The health problems that Nicaraguans have are so different…there were a lot of issues due to parasites or dehydration, which are things we don’t usually have to deal with in the U.S.,” Southern Utah University student Vanessa VanWart said

All students who participated in the trip are pursuing careers in medicine, so it is important that they gain experience in serving others with very different cultural, language, and economic backgrounds. Through four days of health screenings in rural Nicaragua, they most definitely experienced quite a culture shock, and learned so much in the process.

“As a future healthcare provider, you have to learn to be able to work with people from all different backgrounds and all kinds of philosophies,” Dixie State University student Rachel Seegmiller said.

During the week students stayed in Blanding but traveled as far as Monument Valley to shadow healthcare providers with Utah Navajo Health Services. The goal of this immersion experience is to expose pre-health students to what it is like to practice medicine in a rural community with Native American populations. Seegmiller especially loved shadowing Navajo physicians to see their interesting perspective and how much they connect with their patients.

During the Las Vegas trip, students performed health screenings with homeless populations, shadowed healthcare providers, and even toured Nellis Air Force base to observe healthcare provider life in the military. In addition, students volunteered at various organizations including Shade Tree Women’s Shelter, 3 Square, Operation Clean the World, Opportunity Village, and the LBGTQ Center.

The Rural Health Scholars Program is available at Southern Utah University, Dixie State University, Snow College, and Utah State University-Eastern in Price. Through a partnership with the University of Utah School of Medicine, this program assists students in becoming successful applicants to medical, nursing, podiatry, dental, pharmacy, and other health professions programs.

Student applications are strengthened through a regimen of classes, seminars, community service, job shadowing, research and advisement. For more information about the Utah Center for Rural Health programs, contact Karen Ganss at 435-865-8660 or click here.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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1 Comment

  • Proud Rebel April 2, 2017 at 7:13 pm

    What a great way for them to spend their spring break! It’s wonderful to see these young men and women expanding their knowledge, while benefiting folks who are in need. I particularly thank them for their work with The Navajo Nation.

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