Global Field Experience

 

If you require accommodations such mobility, diet, or any others, please contact the Office of Global Health to discuss options. As part of our commitment to equity, we are happy to try to identify solutions to accommodate your needs.  

Please contact the Office of Global Health for more information:
globalnursing@umaryland.edu
UMSON, Room 480

The Office of Global Health is offering two global field experiences to Tanzania and Nigeria. Funding is available, so those interested are strongly encouraged to apply!

This experience can count toward an elective in either NELC 452 (undergraduate-level international field experience) or NRSG 611 (graduate-level international field experience) and will count toward the field experience requirement for students enrolled in the Global Health Certificate.

Eligibility

  • Open to students enrolled at the University of Maryland, Baltimore who have completed a public or global health course.
  • Priority selection is given to the following:
    • Students enrolled in the UMSON Global Health Certificate
    • Students active in the Nurses for Global Health student group
    • Students who have taken NELC 408 or NRSG 609 or other global health courses
  • International students are encouraged to apply. We will support students through the visa process as best we can.
  • Students without passports are also encouraged to apply if they can obtain a passport by April 30, 2024. The turnaround time for an expedited application is about six weeks, and the student is responsible for these costs.  

Student Responsibilities

  • Participants are required to attend three pre-trip sessions in March, April, and May (dates TBD). 
  • Participants are required to attend two post-trip debrief/integration sessions in July and August (dates TBD). 
  • Participants will contribute a minimum of $500 to cover the cost of meals and visas. If this cost is prohibiting you from applying, we still encourage you to apply, and we will try our best to figure out solutions.  
  • Participants are encouraged to bring extra money for incidentals and souvenirs. 
  • Participants will need to apply for the required visas to visit the country (if applicable based on citizenship).

Transparency About the Application Process

  • Once all applications are submitted, a review committee composed of UMSON faculty will review the applications using a standardized rubric.
  • Applications will be independently reviewed and scored by multiple reviewers to ensure fairness and then discussed as a group.
  • Once acceptance decisions have been made, you will be contacted.
  • Applicants have one week to confirm if they will be attending the trip or not.
  • If a student declines acceptance, the next eligible student will be notified.

What to Expect for Each Trip (Briefly)

Nigeria

Nigeria is a West African country with a rich and diverse culture and over 200 languages. While English is the main language spoken in the country, indigenous languages are spoken, with a large population being multilingual. This is a country that is home to incredible tech startups, amazing food and art, and, of course, the famous Nollywood industry that has produced major blockbuster productions.

For this trip, we will dive deep into the health care system of the eastern part of Nigeria in Owerri, where will work with community organizations on the integration of mental health services into HIV care. Students will be involved in capacity-building activities, data collection, analysis, and community service. Students will gain a better understanding of differences in health systems from a strength-based lens.

In Nigeria, safety is of paramount importance, and we will take all necessary to keep everyone safe. Accommodations will be modest, and students will stay in shared rooms. We will do our best to ensure adequate access to Wi-Fi and electricity, but please be prepared for intermittent outages. You can expect driving on bumpy, dirt roads in a Landcruiser, temperatures in the 90s, and lots of rain, as this will be during the rainy season.

You’ll consume local food, which includes rice, garri/cassava, tomato-based stews, soups, and meats in addition to other local dishes.

Tanzania

Elephant in a field in TanzaniaTanzania is a beautiful country in East Africa. It is home to over 100 tribes, speaking over 100 languages, with Kiswahili being the unifying language. It is home to people with vibrant cultures and strong traditions. It is also home to some of the most magnificent national parks and animals in the world. 

For this global field experience, we will be exploring various organizations throughout northern Tanzania to give you an overview of different cultures, various types of health care facilities, and several community-based projects. We will visit both public and nongovernmental hospitals, schools, a children’s village, and a national park, and we will speak with leaders and healers from different communities. 

The focus of this trip is to gain insight into the rich diversity of cultures in Tanzania and to explore various aspects of the health care system and health projects to expand our understanding of how health services are delivered. There will be an emphasis on cultural humility, equity and justice, inner bias work, understanding the burdens of diseases, and comparing health care systems. The trip will consist of site visits, lectures and discussions, workshops, and, of course, time for fun! We will visit local markets, explore important sites, and spend time with local communities. 

Safety is the top priority, and while Tanzania is very safe, we will still take all the necessary precautions to ensure a safe experience. Because we will be visiting rural locations, accommodations will be modest. You will stay in a shared room with one other person, and while we will do our best to ensure adequate access to Wi-Fi and electricity, please be prepared for intermittent outages. You can expect driving on bumpy, dirt roads in a Landcruiser , temperatures in the 60s-70s, and little rain, as it will be the dry season – this also means lots of dust! We will be eating local food, which consists of rice and beans, ugali (corn meal, starchy dish), vegetables, meat, fresh fruits, pilau (spiced rice), and more specialized dishes.