Social Inequality, Health & Policy BDP student Abhi Gorusu had the opportunity to work with One Good Turn Global Health, a non-profit organization focused on providing practical medical education and culturally sensitive medical care to underserved communities worldwide.
"This experience highlights the important role of health education as a sustainable solution to curbing health disparities, and the importance of cultural sensitivity in communicating modern medicine to diverse populations.”
Where did you intern?
I interned with One Good Turn Global Health.
How did you find this internship?
I found this internship on the BDP Opportunities Blog. I’ve always had an interest in global health and working with underserved communities.
What kind of work did you do as an intern?
As a Medical Research and Programming Intern, I researched the prevalence and cultural significance of pertinent health conditions in Kenya. I created educational materials on streamlined protocols for hands-only CPR, drowning, fainting, and more. I designed clinical vignettes that focused on deworming and treating burn wounds, which were used as a learning resource. These vignettes offered fictional case studies and questions to help guide role-play scenarios between a patient and a caretaker. This work supported our Kenya School Health Program, which aims to place trained health officers in Kenyan primary schools and associated communities.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your Connecting Experience?
After creating the materials, my work was presented to health officers in Kenya. It was amazing to hear how enthusiastic the officers were in acting out my vignettes and learning about our medical topics.
In what ways has this Connecting Experience shaped your plans for the future?
This experience highlights the important role of health education as a sustainable solution to curbing health disparities and the importance of cultural sensitivity in communicating modern medicine to diverse populations.
I am incredibly grateful to find such a rewarding experience that closely aligns with my career goals of becoming a physician serving marginalized communities in the United States and around the world. After graduation, I plan on continuing at One Good Turn in creating educational materials for underserved communities.