2018 Honors in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Population Health in Action

2018 Honors in Zimbabwe

 

Image: community practitioner works with parent and child in medical tent

 

Overview

Zimbabwe: Population Health in Action

Unit: Honors Program, Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Program Dates: July 19 – August 17, 2018 (Summer B term)

Location: Harare, Zimbabwe, and surrounding areas; Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and Matabeleland North Province; Chidamoyo Hospital, Karoi, Zimbabwe.

This program will award the following credits of Honors core requirements and UW electives:

Course Credits Credit Type
Honors 391 5 Honors Interdisciplinary (VLPA/ I&S), “DIV” and “W”
Honors 221 5 Honors Science “W”
Honors 391/ NURSING/ GLOBAL HEALTH 2 Does not count toward Honors, but is “DIV” and “W” designated.
Honors 222 (optional SPR 2017) 5 Honors Science, “DIV” and “W”

Information Sessions

December 6, 12:00, MGH 211B (Seminar Room)

December 12, 3:00, MGH 206

January 12, 12:00, MGH 206

About the Program

For the second-year, the Honors Program in collaboration with Global Health and the School of Nursing is pleased to offier a unique opportunity to view public health in practice. This Zimbabwe immersion experience with the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZCHS) Zichire Program, will allow evolving learners interested in global health careers to have a first hand experience learning how accruing an evidence-basis in resource-limited settings is crucial for population health.  A core component of this study abroad is learning how public health research is translated to implementation of programs and policies.

Program directors will lead students on a study abroad program to observe work with a Zimbabwe public health research and implementation team (Zichire), health care services and implementation research and evaluation offered by a Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care provincial medical directorate. The Zuchire program is part of the Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe.  The Ministry of Health and Child Care Provincial Medical Directorate of the Matabeleland North Province will lead students through observations of research, evaluation, and health services in their province.  Participatory learning in rural and community health will also occur at rural District Hospitals. A core component of this study abroad program is learning how public health research is translated to policies impacting population health in a lower-middle income country. Students will learn about and observe research, evaluation and implementation of public health programs, and clinical care programs all focused on improving population health.

Students will attend a one week seminar, on site at the University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, in Harare, Zimbabwe.  Lectures will be the basis of observations in the field and clinic settings.  They will cover diverse topics such as:  clinical care training and services of ‘western’ and traditional health care practices, public health field epidemiology, public health research, implementation science, community-based health program implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of community and clinical programs. In addition, policy and health discussions led by Ministry of Health and Child Care colleagues, College of Health Sciences faculty, and UW professors will be conducted.  Lectures will be focused on how one achieves population health via an integrated policy, research, evaluation, and care framework.  Students will then observe this population health approach in action.  Students will observe field activities in Harare and surrounding areas of the Zichire research and implementation team, and in two field settings (Bulawayo and Chidamoyo).  During weeks two and three, students will be divided into two groups, which will be ‘attached’ to observe practitioners in each of two sites in consecutive order: 1) provincial medical services implementation and policy research (Provincial Medical Directorate and the Field Epidemiology Program); and 3) clinical care practice (Chidamoyo Hospital).

Student experiences will be documented in daily reflections, and in blogs or portfolios.  Students will provide a final presentation of their learning and experiences in Zimbabwe.  Honors students will document their experiences in their Honors Learning Portfolios.

Program Credit/Course Descriptions

HONORS 391 (I&S/ NW) / GH/ NURSING – 5 credits “W” “DIV”
“Population Health in Action: Research and Implementation in Zimbabwe”

This course takes a population health perspective, discussing whether health is a ‘human right’, and if so, how one sets up health systems and involves the community to ensure health for individuals. The experience will examine the population health approach in action in clinic and community settings, and will link implementation science in heath programs to health in Zimbabwe. Students will learn about high prevalence diseases including HIV/AIDS as well as non-communicable diseases in Zimbabwe. A comparative reflective model of learning will investigate policy and implementation as well as funding models for public health practices in Zimbabwe, and other countries in Africa, and the U.S.

HONORS 221 (NW) / GH/ NURSING – 5 credits “W”
“Ethical Research Fundamentals in Internships (using your knowledge)”

This course is based on directed experiential learning and will be facilitated by the UW instructors, University of Zimbabwe ZiCHIRe Program coordinators, and Ministry of Health and Child Care clinic and community partners.

Students will shadow practitioners in three settings in consecutive order. First, students will shadow public health research and implementation activities in Harare, with the University of Zimbabwe Department of Community Medicine Zichire team.  Then students will be divided into two groups, with groups ‘attached’ to shadow practitioners in one of two sites in consecutive order: 1) provincial medical directorate officers in public health field epidemiology practice in Bulawayo; and 3) clinical primary care practice in a rural hospital setting, in Chidamoyo, Zimbabwe.

HONORS 391 (I&S/NW) / GH / NURSING – 2 credits “W” “DIV”
“Reflecting on Community Internships”

This course will not fulfill Honors core requirements, as it is only 2 credits.  Instead, it will count as a UW elective.

This course is the reflective write up of the experiences students are engaged in with the community. Students will document their coursework and internships in their portfolios, including the Honors Portfolio, and will use the portfolio to present their experience in the larger community in Zimbabwe (as well as when they return to the U.S.).  Students will journal their experiences daily, which will be checked off by course instructors.  Students will present their lessons learned at the end of the course in Zimbabwe to a Zimbabwean and UW audience.

HONORS 222 (NW) / GH – 5 credits “W” and “DIV”
“HIV/AIDS: Issues and Challenges” (strongly recommended), or an equivalent college-level HIV/AIDS Course with approval by the instructors. If students have not taken the “HIV/AIDS: Issues and Challenges” class, they will need to share syllabi of HIV/AIDS courses taken, and meet with the instructors to share equivalent experiences and for approval.

This course outlines the global challenges of HIV/AIDS and efforts to control AIDS epidemics.

Students will be required to write a 15 page research paper focused on the Sustainable Development Goals, set in 2015 (http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/) to be achieved by 2030. Students will choose a lower or middle-income country and describe what their country’s Health Goal is, and how it applies to the in-country AIDS epidemic. As part of SDGs, countries have committed to a 90-90-90 target for their AIDS epidemics. Students will summarize the current in-country AIDS epidemic in terms of its epidemiology (disease transmission and spread) and compare it to the epidemic in that country in 2000. Students will describe in-country HIV/AIDS evidence-based prevention and treatment (medical/clinical and/or behavioral), and social or economic programs that were designed to reduce the in-country AIDS epidemic. Students will then document the evidence on how their country is progressing in its 90-90-90 goals, and explain whether and why they think their chosen country will or will not achieve its 90-90-90 goal by 2030. Students will provide documented evidence from research, WHO/UNAIDS/CDC/USAID reports, as well as in-country Ministry of Health reports to back up their explanations.

Spring Orientation Sessions

 Three two-hour information sessions will be held during Spring Quarter for students accepted to the program.  Attendance is required.  Sessions will likely be held at 6:00pm-8:00pm and will include pizza.  Final scheduling of sessions will be determined by Doodle poll among students accepted to the program.

Program Leadership

Danuta Kasprzyk, Family & Child Nursing, Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Global Health, Program Director. Dr. Kasprzyk spent the first six years of her career on the faculty at the University of Washington, School of Nursing. She then moved to Battelle for over 20 years for a career in public health research focused on infectious and chronic disease prevention and evaluation of health programs in the US and internationally. The primary driver in her research has been to determine what motivates behavior, so programs can be built to encourage healthy behaviors, whether via primary or secondary prevention.  She co-developed the Integrated Behavioral Model and has used it extensively to predict and change behavior, building effective prevention programs. In 2000, with colleagues, she formed the Zichire Program, at the University of Zimbabwe Department of Community Medicine, to conduct public health research and intervention implementation. kasprzyk@uw.edu

Daniel Montaño, Family & Child Nursing, Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Global Health, Co-Director. Dr. Montaño has over 30 years of experience conducting health behavior and primary care research, including investigation of factors affecting health behaviors, assessment of health behaviors, and evaluation of behavior change interventions. He is an internationally recognized expert in attitude measurement, behavioral theory, and research to design communication for behavior change. Dr. Montaño co-developed the Integrated Behavioral Model. Much of his work has been in HIV/STD prevention and cancer screening behaviors. Dr. Montaño has conducted studies with primary care clinicians and patients, large-scale community-based studies, and national and regional surveys of clinicians. Most of his research includes both qualitative and quantitative methods. He has collaborated on research in Zimbabwe for over 17 years. montano@uw.edu

Kathy McCarty, Family & Child Nursing, On-site Coordinator. Ms. McCarty is an advanced practice nurse practitioner who is the ‘sister-in-charge’ at Chidamoyo Hospital in Zimbabwe.  She has practiced in Zimbabwe for over 30 years and now runs the hospital.  With her advance practice degree, Ms. McCarty started treating AIDS patients in New York in the early 1990s at the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Her connection to Chidamoyo started as a volunteer experience, and Zimbabwe captured her heart.  Ms. McCarty has many years of experience mentoring students interested in clinical health careers from Europe and the US. She has a clinical faculty appointment at the University of Washington School of Nursing.  Kathy runs the Chidamoyo Hospital blog:  http://chidamoyohospitalinzimbabwe.blogspot.com

sistermakate@gmail.com

Program Expenses

Estimated Program Fee: $6,850 (students do not pay tuition; program fee and concurrent enrollment fee only)

Average Airplane Ticket: $2,800

Lodging, meals, and transportation are included in the program fee.

Payment Schedule

Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.

Payment Type Payment Amount Payment Due Date
Non-Refundable UW Study Abroad Fee $450 July 6, 2018
Program Fee Balance $6,850 July 6, 2018
TOTAL FEES CHARGED $7,300

Making the program affordable

The Honors Program is passionate about study abroad and the incredible impact it can have on a student’s life.  An education grounded in a global context provides life long skills and lifelong memories. Studying abroad deepens study at home and provides a foundation for expanded reflection and self-growth, all core tenets of the Honors Program. We want everyone to experience study abroad. Don’t assume you can’t afford to study outside of the U.S. Here are resources to help you get started on your global adventures!

Honors Program Scholarships

The Honors Program offers a number of scholarships for current Honors Program students. These scholarship funds may be used for UW approved study abroad programs or exchanges. Students may apply beginning in January (deadline is April 1).

Study Abroad Scholarships at UW

The UW offers several scholarships to support students interested in studying abroad whether through a faculty led program or an exchange program. A few opportunities include GO! and Fritz.

Visit the The Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity’s Global Opportunities website to learn about more scholarship opportunities.

The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide.

The summer 2018 Gilman International Scholarship application will open in mid-January 2018. Applications are due March 6, 2018 by 11:59pm (Central Time) and the certifying advisor deadline is March 13.

There are several outside resources for study abroad scholarships. Visit the UW’s Study Abroad Scholarship page for more information on scholarship support as well as information about GET funds and how you may apply the GET to your study abroad costs.

Using Financial Aid for Study Abroad

You may find more information about using your existing financial aid for study abroad on the Study Abroad Office’s Financial Aid webpage.  In general, all financial aid awarded may be used to support study abroad. Exceptions to this include tuition waivers, work-study awards, or scholarships that are specific about using the award for tuition (although there may be flexibility with some scholarships, please check with the financial aid office). Tuition waivers and work-study are never allowed for study abroad.

Revision of Need

You may also turn in a “Revision of Need” form with the Financial Aid Office if you have a FAFSA on file.  Once you are accepted to a study abroad program, visit the Study Abroad Office to obtain a budget for your study abroad program then complete the Revision Request and turn in both the budget and the revision request to the Office of Student Financial Aid in Schmitz Hall.

Visit the Financial Aid Study Abroad Funding Website for more information about applying for Summer quarter financial aid and for information about Exploration Seminar financial aid timeline (different than A or B term financial aid disbursement timeline).

You may also contact Honors Program Director Julie Villegas (villegas@uw.edu) if you would like to discuss additional resources and strategies.

Housing

Students will be housed in a private lodge/apartment setting for the first week of their program.  It was selected based on its guaranteed security and full-meal plans available.  Students will then travel to two other sites, where they will stay in Ministry of Health housing (apartments affiliated with a rural hospital, apartments affiliated with the Provincial Medical Director’s office in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe).

Application Process

This study abroad program is designed for Undergraduates in the Honors Program; Undergraduates in the School of Nursing and Global Health; Undergraduates in Public Health; Select graduate students in the School of Nursing and the Department of Global Health; students in other majors with a focus on health, such as health psychology, medical sociology or anthropology, and students across campus, on a space available basis, who are interested in the topic.

Students who have taken other college-level HIV/AIDS courses (syllabus will need to be provided to Drs. Kasprzyk and Montano) are also able to sign up for the study abroad program.

Students should be ready to work with a wide variety of individuals including public health practitioners, researchers, clinicians, in both urban and rural LMICs. Students will be representing the University of Washington, and the University of Zimbabwe to communities and entities they will be working with and should be intellectually open and comfortable working with diverse populations.

Apply Now

Deadline: Jan 31, 2018