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Global Health Program Migrant Health Service-Learning

  

Migrant Health Service-Learning (MHSL) Group Program

  • Interdisciplinary SERVICE program (MD students, Public Health students, Medical Residents, SOM Faculty)
    • Cohort program (together for 9 days)
    • Multiple days of volunteer work with non-profits (Casa Alitas) assisting migrants (recently released from CBP in 1st stages of seeking asylum)
    • Volunteering usually includes food and clothing distribution services at several facilities and *other projects
    • Visits to border wall and desert trips with Humane Borders &/or Tucson Samaritans or other organizations to see first hand and learn about border/ related issues and complications
    • Visit with local Medical Examiner
    • Desert Museum, Desert outlook trips
    • Daily meals together/reflections

The MHSL program is a service-learning focused program.  We learn, volunteer, prepare meals, eat, sweat, sleep, share bathrooms, laugh, cry, have fun,do house chores AND do evening debriefs together during program. The group is usually up by 8 am and we have completed with dinner/clean up at 9 pm each day.

Eligibility/Requirements

  • Applicants must be in good standing at UNC and participate fully on the program.
  • If accepted into the program, participants must be responsive to pre-departure requirements (and additional paperwork/communications), participate in the spring course, and attadne any any pre-departure meetings and post-program meetings.
  • Participants must also help OGHE promote the program for the next year through info sessions and sharing their experience with others.

Program Capacity

The program has a capacity of 12 people for transportation (SUVs) and housing (Air BNB shared house)

Program Dates

Summer 2025 travel dates (subject to change):  Saturday, May 31-Sunday, June 8, 2025 (updated dates)

Costs – $1,500 per person

Costs include:

  • Flight to/from RDU on program dates
  • Housing for program (We live together in a group house/Air BNB)
  • At least two meals a day – breakfast and dinner and snacks (some lunches provided)
  • Group transportation in Tucson
  • Costs for program related trips and sights (museum entrance fees, etc.)

Costs do not include:

  • Flight day expenses (food, airport transport, airline fees for luggage, etc.)
  • Food not included/provided on program (some lunches, other snacks)
  • Donations for charity (clothing, etc.)
  • Other supplies/personal items

For MD and MD/MPH Students/Residents/Leaders – If accepted into the program, OGHE will cover the $1,500

For SPH MPH & PhD students-The School of Public Health may offer funding  for the program that can be used to pay the program fees to OGHE.  Review the SPH internships and funding website or reach out to SPH contacts for more information on funding opportunities.

Required Pre-Departure Spring Course

Meets in-person on Friday afternoons. MD students must attend migration focused classes (~half 16 weeks) Spring 2025 – 1/8-4/25 (2:30-4:10 pm) 

This course examines migration from a global public health perspective. We take a broad understanding of migration, as the process of moving from one’s place of origin to another compelled by different factors (i.e., economic, political, environmental). We discuss social determinants of migration and its health effects, and public health interventions. This class teaches students basic qualitative research skills, including drafting qualitative research questions, interview guides, and conducting and analyzing in-depth interviews.

  • For MD Students- We will enroll you in GLBE 455: Migrant Health-Service Learning (6 cr*) and you must attend at least 8 of the relevant class sessions (non-qualitative sessions)
  • For MPH students-PUBH 724: Public Health & Migration: *2 credits – full 16 weeks of meetings (includes qualitative research)

Information Session on the 2025 Program Details

  • Monday, September 30, 12:15-1:15 pm in Roper 5302 (with pizza)

Application Timelines

Spanish proficiency is not required, but highly useful. A willingness to try to learn and use Spanish to assist as needed is required.

Applicants should apply using the application for the MHSL Summer Group Program.

  • 2025 Summer Application is available Oct 18-Nov 17, 2024
  • Student Application Deadline 11:59 Sunday, Nov 17, 2024
  • LOR deadline November 24, 2024
  • Notification by December 15, 2024

Application Link (coming soon)

 

Contact/Next Steps

Contact OGHE to express interest in the program and for questions/next steps.  All participants must complete the pre-departure requirements as applicable for a US travel program. Previous participant contact information can also be provided upon request (some is listed below)

 

Some Past UNC Students on the MHSL Program

Name                    Enrollment Info When on MHSL Month/Year Went
Alan Nunez Summer after MS1 May-June 2024
Juliana Spector Summer after first year of MPH May-June 2024
Sam Lidsky Summer of MS4/MPH year May-June 2024
Rikhel Johnson During FM Residency (year 1) May-June 2024
Quintin Van Dyk Summer after first year of MPH (and practicum in Tucson) May-June 2023
Anysa Zamudio Fernandez  Summer after MS1 May-June 2023

 

Program Recommendations from Past Participants:

“GO! If you 1) want to LEARN about the migrant experience; 2) plan to work with migrant patients; or 3) want to further develop your ability to sit with patients in their experiences.”

“The biggest benefit of the program was Learning about the migrant experience and its effects on the health of current and future patients and the wonderful relationships we built while learning to work well as a team.”

Other Information and Resources