Service

Global Service Corps

The Global Service Corps facilitates volunteer, internship, and fellowship programs for college students, medical students, and physicians alike. Volunteers are placed in either Tanzania or Thailand.

Vanderbilt China Care

A chapter of the national China Care Foundation, an organization dedicated to the support of underprivileged Chinese orphans. The mission for the foundation is to provide aid for the orphans in China who don’t receive proper care and have slim chances for adoption and/or survival. The Vanderbilt chapter concentrates on their medical relief and on securing needed supplies. They are currently fundraising to pay for surgeries ranging from cleft pallets to spina bifida.

Inter-American Health Alliance

The Inter-American Health Alliance is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 charitable organization that supports community health organizations working with marginalized populations in the western highlands of Guatemala. They provide financial, technical and organizational support to partnering organizations. They work to improve access to health care and health education through the development of innovative collaborations between governmental, non-governmental, and educational institutions.

Milton and Fred Ochieng featured in "Diversity Matters"

This episode airs today on Web Talk Radio and is available now to listen on demand at Diversity Matters.

Vanderbilt Students for Kenya

Seeks to raise awareness about global health and economic issues affecting Lwala, a remote village in western Kenya, and to broaden the perspective of the Vanderbilt and Nashville community. Their major event, the Lwala Benefit, is in the spring and all proceeds go toward the Lwala Community Clinic founded by Milton Ochieng here at Vanderbilt Medical School. Other events are focused on HIV/AIDS and Africa Awareness.

Manna Project International

Manna Project International's vision is to establish a global network of Manna Project communities where young adults live and work alongside one another in underserved communities to initiate positive change.

The Kampala Project

Global service program where students work for 4 weeks in medical clinics, schools, and orphanages in Kampala, Uganda.

PEPFAR in Mozambique (Friends in Global Health)

PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) in Mozambique - CDC-GAP

Vesicovaginal Fistula Repair

The Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health has sponsored two medical mission trips to Ganta United Methodist Hospital in Nimba County, Liberia to treat women suffering from Vesico-vaginal fistula and to provide instruction in VVF repair to medical staff. VIGH is in the process of formalizing a partnership to build capacity and treat women suffering from VVF.

International Experiences

In their own words, colleagues of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health share their experiences abroad.

International emergency medicine

Vanderbilt's department of emergency medicine has an active international medicine program. Four or more faculty members travel annually to countries with limited medical technologies and practices to assist local care providers in upgrading their emergency medical programs. In a rural Zambian program conducted through overseas Baptist church contributions, for example, more than 10,000 persons are screened and treated yearly in a rural mobile medical program. In 2006, a pilot HIV rapid testing program was successfully in identifying persons for referral to newly available PEPFAR-supported services in a nearby town. Faculty ties to Zambia, India, Peru, and Guyana are sustained, permitting repeat visits and more sustained service and training contributions. In turn, Vanderbilt faculty and students learn a tremendous amount about tropical medicine and cultural competencies.

Lwala Community Alliance

Two brothers, both Vanderbilt medical students from western Kenya, have built a medical clinic in their home village of Lwala. What began as a medical student summer project culminated with broad assistance from both the Vanderbilt and Dartmouth University and alumni communities.

Emphasis

Vanderbilt Medical Students may choose global health as the focus of their Emphasis Project.