Making a World of Difference: Stories about Global Health: Global Healthcare Initiatives: Dominican Republic (Medical Mission)

Professor Debra Smith, College of DuPage Library's Nursing & Health Sciences Liaison Librarian, moderates faculty and student participants discussing their experiences, lessons-learned, and key take-aways from the COD HLTHS 1800 Global Healthcare Initiatives: Dominican Republic field studies course. View the session to hear how this medical mission changed the lives of the people receiving care as well as the participant care givers.

This presentation is a stellar example of the Global Reach, Local Touch @ College of DuPage theme tied to the Library’s larger exhibition of a National Library of Medicine traveling exhibit, “Making a World of Difference: Stories about Global Health” available for viewing until October 4th, 2025, on the COD Library’s upper floor. For more information and to share in COD's "story" about Making a World of Difference, visit https://library.cod.edu/nlm

To access the "Diaper donations for babies of La Ciénaga" gofundme page discussed in the recording, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/la-cienaga

Global Healthcare Initiatives: Dominican Republic

Organized by College of DuPage Field Studies/Study Abroad/Global Education

Professor Mitzi Thomas, with the Eye Care Assistant and Ophthalmic Technician programs at College of DuPage, and Professor Julie Garcia, with COD's Nursing program, help students explore community healthcare in the Dominican Republic. Along with Global Health Outreach and other healthcare professionals, students become active participants in assisting with community health delivery and projects in San Cristóbal. San Cristóbal, located on the southern coast of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, is a captivating blend of historical charm and lush tropical landscapes. This is a medical mission program. Participants assist in clinics for eight to 10 hours a day for six days. Physical requirements include standing/walking for long hours and over uneven surfaces. Special precautions are taken for COVID-19, and students must follow all health and safety rules. On the final day, participants explore and enjoy this beautiful region of the Dominican Republic.

As part of this course, students learn more about health care delivery in the US and the Dominican Republic as well as research the unique health needs of individuals living in and around San Cristóbal. To assist in their research, the students utilize the Library's Global Health research guide.

COD Field Studies: Health Care in the Dominican Republic [2025, 2 minutes 54 seconds]

Contact Information

Field and Experiential Learning, Study Abroad and Global Education
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 3520
(630) 942-2356
Email: fssa@cod.edu