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Study Abroad: UF in Madagascar

The primary focus of my study abroad was conservation and biodiversity. As a result, we participated in a variety of reforestation projects and hiking excursions. Although this was the main focus of the course, our professors also gave us opportunities to learn about the shocking health disparities in Madagascar. In my opinion, the most impactful part of the course was working with the health outreach team at Centre ValBio. We were fortunate enough to assist them with an oral health education program in a neighboring village. 

Clinical Experience

The clinical experiences I've had in Madagascar and the U.S. have given me a broader perspective on human health. At the Vezo Hospital in Andavadoaka, I was given the opportunity to shadow physicians specializing in infectious disease and primary care. We also got to visit a hospital in the rural village of Ifanadiana. Spending time at these two locations helped me see first-hand how access to preventative medicine drastically impacts quality of life. 

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Here in the United States I shadowed a physician specializing in pediatric neurodevelopment. This experience helped me to understand the day-to-day life of a physician. I also learned to take vital signs at a clinical skills workshop run by students at the UF College of Medicine. 

Research

My research experience has fueled my passion for medicine. Currently, I’m a research volunteer in UF’s department of Human and Environmental Toxicology. I’m working on a project that studies how estrogen-mimicking compounds in sunscreens disrupt crustacean life cycles. The most valuable thing I’ve learned from working in this department is how human and environmental wellbeing are intrinsically related. The experience that I gained here has also helped me to develop concrete laboratory skills.

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