Honors Link

Looking to gain medical exposure in a culture unlike my own, I decided to intern at the Center for Social Medicine in Loni, India. During the ten weeks of my internship, I obtained a first-hand understanding of the rural Indian medical system and witnessed a wide variety of medical cases, procedures, and treatments I never could have imagined in the United States.  By interning in India, I also gained insights that extend far beyond the medical aspect. The culture of India is extremely rich and colorful, both literally and figuratively, and it gave me a new perspective on life and the importance of family. Developing understandings of medicine and culture in India go hand-in-hand: Indian medical practices can only fully be understood when looking through the lens of Indian culture, and much about cultural expectations and rules can be learned from observations of medical practices in India.

Through the Center for Social Medicine, I was exposed to a wide range of medical topics, incorporating aspects of physical and mental health as well as social and rural health and development. I spent a few days in the mobile clinic visiting migrant villages, which was a very interesting experience as it took effective health care delivery to a whole new level.  My week in the maternity ward was incredible and, in many ways, shocking and heartbreaking: I witnessed numerous vaginal births, a C-section, and a miscarriage, but words can’t describe what these women endure while giving birth because of the influences of the caste system, the high patient to medical staff ratio, and the limited facilities and resources. During my week in orthopedics, I was able to observe many hands-on procedures, ranging from a tibia fracture repair and knee joint aspiration to post-surgical dressing changes and outpatient orthopedic investigations. I also partook in a week-long outposting in Nasik, an urban slum about two hours from Loni. This posting, especially the visits to local brothels, was one of the most eye-opening experiences for me: I visited various organizations that work on reducing HIV/AIDS and STI prevalence among MSM (men who have sex with men), FSW (female sex workers), and migrant communities, and I am absolutely amazed at the remarkable job that has been done to set up and run these organizations. I was also surprised to find such a vibrant and well-established, yet hidden, gay and transgender community in India. I spent a few days observing a mental health workshop for female village workers, which was a complex and interesting challenge, as mental health is not a well-known or highly recognized topic in rural India. In addition, I was able to shadow doctors and residents in family medicine, general medicine, and oncology departments, and I made visits to farming villages, migrant settlements, and a local Ayurveda College.

It is difficult to describe everything I have been able to witness and learn throughout these ten weeks, but my favorite posting was definitely my week in the pediatrics department. Before coming to India, I already had a strong interest in a career in pediatrics, and my experiences in the pediatrics department and local schools and organizations have further encouraged this aspiration. My mornings in the pediatrics department started off by accompanying the chief of pediatrics on rounds, visiting over 100 pediatric patients in two to three hours. Afternoons were spent in the outpatient department, in the immunization clinic, at lectures on pediatric medicine, and at pediatric workshops alongside residents and interns. The types of illnesses and conditions I witnessed here are much different than in the United States, as I saw many children with tuberculosis, dengue fever, malaria, meningitis, and severe malnutrition. Seeing these ill children can be an emotionally challenging experience, but as the chief of pediatrics pointed out, to successfully work in the pediatrics department, you have to focus on the positive, the children that you can help, and the amazing resilience and strength of children. The smiles, laughs, and playfulness of even the sickest pediatric patients are truly amazing.

I am very thankful for the financial support I received through the Honors College Experience Scholarship, which helped me cover the costs of my flight, my visa fees, and my OSU Education Abroad Fee. I know that my experiences and the memories I made in India will forever stay with me and that the knowledge I gained will significantly help me in the future. I am confident that I will return to India someday once I have developed my medical skills so I can continue to explore my connection with this culture and help the people of this intriguing and colorful country.