IDIS 286: Intro to Cross-Cultural Medicine

In this course, premedical, predental, and nursing students get exposed to medicine in a cross-cultural context in Nepal. In Nepal, students will learn to appreciate the influence of history, culture, poverty, lack of infrastructure, and religious concepts on health and sickness. This course will also examine how culture intersects with healthcare through spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Students will visit several hospitals to observe how healthcare is distributed in Nepal. This will include visits to a community hospital in Okaldhunga; a 4-day rotation at the United Mission Hospital in Tansen where students will have exposure to internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, orthopedics, maternity (Ob-Gyn), dentistry, and community medicine and meet with expat and Nepali healthcare workers; a 2-day rotation at Green Pasture Hospital in Pokhara to observe rehabilitation and palliative care work for disabled persons and see the challenges experienced by Nepalis with disabilities; an observation at a psychiatric rehabilitation center to observe challenges in mental health care in Nepal.

A key feature of this course is for students to learn the joys and challenges of living in a different culture and deepen their faith and compassion for others as they interact with Nepali people. Students will find that medicine and spirituality are natural allies and Christian missions in particular provide a unique opportunity to practice one’s faith in caring for others in their daily lives in a cross-cultural context. Evaluation is based on daily reflective journal writing, a short paper based on a shadowing activity, a reflective writing piece that can go on a blog, and active participation.

Academics

2 credits
Core fulfillment: Global Regions & Culture