Barbara Ekeh, Nicaragua 2015

Participating in the trip during my senior year of college, gave me a different perspective that I earnestly, did not anticipate prior. The trip reaffirmed my interests in global healthcare and medicine. Visiting Nicaragua and learning more about the status of maternal healthcare, social determinants of health and overall the rise of street children, it taught me that there was still so much I did not know. In addition to challenging me to learn more, the trip helped narrow my global health interest on understanding the impact of refugee and immigration healthcare, in the United States and abroad.

Another impact of the trip was its ability to help establish professional goals that I looked forward to working towards. My conversations with Drs. Crystal Endsley and Marla Jaksch, who accompanied our team on the trip, allowed me to realize that no matter what career(s) I ended up going into, I have to make sure it allow it not only challenges me, but also gives me a chance to be creative. Their passions and interests caused me to have moments where I would sit back and think, "my goal is to be as happy and successful as both ladies are in my own respective field, but more importantly what can I do to get there."

Although I have yet to travel since the trip, but I am currently in my first year of medical school at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky. I still am passionate about working with vulnerable populations and while in school, I am looking to work with the Catholic Charities organization to aid with health care literacy programs for newly arrived refugees. Along with this, I am looking to participate in an international clinical rotation during my 3rd or 4th year. Till then, my interests lie in learning more and working with the vast immigrant and refugee population in Louisville, KY and methods to improve their healthcare access.

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