Rochester students confront poverty, limited access to care, and the role of education in public health during Dominican Republic trip

Rochester, New York – During a transformative spring break, thirteen students from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) embarked on a field trip to the Dominican Republic, where they immersed themselves in the local healthcare environment. The trip, taking place from March 8 to March 15, was part of the Global Healthcare Delivery with International Field Experience class. It aimed to provide students firsthand experience of healthcare delivery systems in different cultural settings.

Led by John Oliphant, professor and director of the new global public health bachelor’s degree program at RIT, the group, including Mary Golden, RIT’s director of interior design, and Jallah Kennedy, an adjunct professor in the global public health program, visited various healthcare facilities. Their itinerary included medical schools, hospitals, clinics, and emergency services locations such as civil defense and Red Cross facilities, and even a local prison.

Throughout their journey in both the western region of Pedernales and the capital, Santo Domingo, the students engaged with local medical and public health professionals, gaining insights into the challenges and innovations in healthcare within the Dominican Republic. Cody Lawson, a global public health major from Sherburne, N.Y., found the experience eye-opening.

“This experience opened my eyes to other parts of the world that I have never been exposed to,” he said. “I learned that the Dominican Republic faces a lot of challenges in the healthcare of children—access to healthcare, lack of vaccinations due to financial circumstances, and various diarrhea and respiratory diseases,” Lawson added.

The RIT students also participated in community outreach during their stay. They conducted health education sessions, discussing topics like oral hygiene, the importance of handwashing, and puberty with local children. They also held discussions with adults about vital health metrics such as blood pressure and the benefits of nutritious eating, distributing personal care items to the community.

Abby Giacoman, a fourth-year physician assistant student from Rochester, N.Y., noticed how much is taken for granted in the United States, “such as access to first-line medication or an individual’s ability to attend college,” she said. “It helped me realize the true impact of inequities that exist in healthcare, and how they can affect the local population.”

The emotional impact of the trip was profound, with students often overwhelmed by the stark realities of poverty and healthcare challenges they witnessed. “Our planet is incredibly interconnected and pathogens do not know national boundaries. COVID-19, Ebola, West Nile virus, Zika—they may start at other places but they don’t stay there,” Oliphant said.

Upon returning to RIT, the students are scheduled to share their experiences and learnings at the Innovations in Global Public Health Conference on April 12 and the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival on April 26. They will use these platforms to process and discuss the implications of what they’ve seen and to explore avenues for advocacy and action.

The journey not only provided valuable educational insights but also a renewed commitment among the students to address global health challenges.

More details are available here.