DO - Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

lth
eriences that
of potential differences,” Horwitz says. “This is a good way
to learn to interact with patients from different backgrounds
within different health-care systems.”
For example, students participating in the geriatric tutorial in
Edinburgh often note how differently the United Kingdom
rations care for its elderly. According to Ice, American doctors
more often take extreme and intensive measures with elderly
patients than do English doctors.
Ice, herself, studied in the U.K. at the London University
while still a junior at Washington University. At the time, she
majored in anthropology and worked in nursing homes on
the side. Later, for her doctoral dissertation in gerontology at
the University of Minnesota, Ice conducted research on the
stress levels of U.S. nursing home populations.
A few years after coming to OU-COM, Ice decided to diversify
her research. “I was aware of the HIV epidemic in Africa
and that many grandparents of orphans have unexpectedly
become caregivers again,” she says. “I started thinking about
the potential for stress there.”
She headed to Kenya for the first time in 2002, to establish
the Kenyan Grandparents Study, which examines how
unanticipated childcare responsibilities affect the stress levels,
nutrition and health of the elderly. What’s more, she fell in
love with the place, and she’s returned every summer since
with students in tow.
“There are many situations in Kenya that will frustrate you or
break your heart, but it’s amazing how much people appreciate
the little things you do for them,” Ice says. “I always learn
something new about myself and about Kenya. ... It’s neat
to watch students go through the same process.”
Even if students never return to the country where they studied
or treat a tropical disease as physicians in the U.S., Ice believes
international experience inspires better physicians.
“Culture permeates everything,” she says. “We are an immigrant
country, and immigrants arrive with their own attitudes, diseases
and customs. It helps to be aware of all of those factors.”
TODAY’S
DO
Charles J. Cannon Edinburgh Geriatric Tutorial
This clinical and educational program gives third-year medical
students an opportunity to experience health care for the
elderly in Scotland’s National Health Service.
Deborah Meyer, Ph.D., director, 740.593.2266
meyerd1@ohio.edu
Community-Based Tropical Disease Research-Ecuador
With a focus on Triatominae insects and mosquitoes in domestic,
peridomestic and sylvatic habitats, this program seeks to
reduce the spread of Chagas disease in Ecuador. Community
education activities, including the production of educational
tools to be used in the region, are also an important part of
this project.
Mario Grijalva, Ph.D., director, 740.593.2192
grijalva@ohio.edu
Introduction to the Galapagos Islands Natural History
This program provides an introduction to one of the most sensitive
ecological habitats in the world. By visiting uninhabited
and inhabited islands, students have a chance to compare and
evaluate the impact of human activities on the island ecosystems
and to discuss the struggle between economic development
and conservation.
Mario Grijalva, Ph.D., director, 740.593.2192
grijalva@ohio.edu
Tropical Disease Biology Workshop in Ecuador
The objective of this multidisciplinary adventure is to gain a
deeper understanding of the complex factors that play a role
in the biology of tropical diseases.
Mario Grijalva, Ph.D., director, 740.593.2192
grijalva@ohio.edu
Kenyan Grandparents Study
This research project seeks to examine the effect that caregiving
for orphaned children has on the health and wellbeing
of Luo elders.
Gillian Ice, Ph.D., M.P.H., director, 740.593.2128
iceg@ohio.edu
SHARE Kenya-Ohio
In this clinical program, students, faculty and clinicians deliver
health care to residents in rural western Kenya.
Christopher Simpson, D.O., M.A., director, 740.593.2257
simpson@ohio.edu
Village Mountain Mission
This clinical program provides health care to the people of
Pueblo Nuevo, Dominican Republic. Identification of specific
health conditions, for which there may be some immediate
strategies, as well as those that require long-term strategies
are an important part of this program.
Roy Bontrager, M.D., director, 740.593.2207
rbon@hocking.net
Ohio University and CEDEINFA Partnership:
Medical care for the “poorest of the poor” in San Salvador
provides care for children and their families in collaboration
with the Center for the Complete Development of Children and
their Families.
Eddith Dashiell, Ph.D., director, 740.593.2581
dashiell@ohio.edu
Clinical rotation in Ecuador
This program provides students with an opportunity to rotate
for four weeks in a variety of disciplines in select hospitals
in Quito, Ecuador. Students will take orientation and training
at Catholic University of Ecuador, receive classes in medical
Spanish and conduct clinical rotations in the different services
offered by the participating hospitals.
David Drozek, D.O., Ph.D., director, 740.593.2489
drozek@oucom.ohiou.edu
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