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Group photo of Judy Genshaft Honors College students on the Fall 2023 Dominican Republic Study Abroad Trip.

Honors Students Reflect on Formative Study Abroad Trip to the Dominican Republic

After a semester’s worth of preparation – practicing Spanish, learning about the history and culture of the region, and researching the impacts of global barriers to health – (USF) Judy Genshaft Honors College students traveled to Bella Vista in the Dominican Republic to volunteer in health clinics during the 2023 winter break.  

“The Dominican Republic Beyond the Classroom: Health and Culture” is an Honors course typically offered each fall and is regularly taught by Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Lindy Davidson.

During the Fall semester, students engage in the coursework portion of the program where they build the practical skills and knowledge necessary to ready themselves for work in the clinic and engaging with the local Bella Vista community before embarking on their journey out of the country. 

“Dr. Davidson did a great job of preparing us both culturally and in the language sense... once we arrived, we were like, wow, everything fits into place. We got everything we needed and we were ready to take part in that community.” said Honors student Aakash Vijeesh who majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in public health, of his time in the course.  

Honors students wearing scrubs smile in the Dominican Republic

IMPACTFUL JOURNEYS

Over the 11-day program students were housed directly in the Bella Vista community where they partnered with the to support health education projects, set up mobile clinics, shadow physicians, and take part in food security programs. 

The Kerolle Initiative, founded by Dr. Reginald Kerolle, is a nonprofit community health organization based in the Dominican Republic dedicated to providing holistic health interventions to improve the quality of life and access to medical care in rural communities.  

“It made me more passionate about medicine than ever, being able to see all the ways that we can help those in need, those that don't have the means to help themselves ... it brings me so much joy.” said Honors student Nusheen Immen who is dual majoring in biomedical sciences and economics while minoring in psychology. 

The formative clinical experiences and cultural awareness that students develop on the trip are powerful tools in reshaping health narratives and helping students interested in careers in medicine to become passionate health care providers in the future. 

“You learn how these doctors treat their patients, and it really shows that the doctors know their patients, they know their family, they know their mother, the sister, the daughters ... how many kids they have ... and it shows how that information is so valuable to treating them,” said Vijeesh. 

Honors students smile with Dr. Reginald Kerolle

Since 2016, over 200 Honors students have participated in the program, which can leave a lasting impact on students, many of whom are aspiring physicians themselves: “I got to take that step forward and see what it was like to be in the shoes of a physician and it made me realize that it's exactly what I wanted, exactly the path that I want to take,” shared Immen.  

FORGING THEIR PATHS

For the faculty and students who have had the opportunity to interact with the Bella Vista community, it's important to recognize that this program extends beyond an 11-day service trip. Students form lasting connections with each other, their host families, clinic patients, and children in the local area, fostering meaningful interactions.  

“Our host families could not have been more welcoming and warm. We were clearly in a very different environment, which was challenging for many of us. However, the host families, the kids, and the people in the community made it feel like home,“ said Vijeesh, reflecting on the group's initial experience entering the Bella Vista community.  

When asked about the greatest takeaway from the experience in the Dominican Republic, Immen replied with the powerful words Dr. Kerolle shared with students upon their arrival: 

“Nothing good comes from the comfort zone.” Immen continued by saying, “I gave so much and I got so much, and it was all because I was out of my comfort zone. Do things that you wouldn't normally do because that's how you learn best.”

Students interested in this Honors experience and other study abroad opportunities can learn more about the Dominican Republic Beyond the Classroom: Health and Culture program.

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Committed to intellectual curiosity, global citizenship, and service across three unique Tampa Bay campuses, Honors News shares the exceptional stories of the Judy Genshaft Honors College.