Global Health in Thailand

The future health of our world’s population requires a generation of creative, motivated, strategic, expansive thinkers prepared to collaborate across disciplines and sectors to proactively address the causes of poor health in patients and populations. In Thailand, gain an understanding of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the intersection between animal health, human health, and the environment.

Course Description

Over two weeks in Thailand, learn about the role of elephants in the Thai culture and how this influences a variety of factors that affect both human and animal health. Learn about Thai healthcare for humans, as well as for animals. Grow in an understanding of Thailand’s progress toward a number of SDGs and learn the role and impact culture has on that progress. Upon returning to the UofM, continue exploring global health by comparing and contrasting SDGs in Thailand and Minnesota during seven weeks of class.

Live in a hotel with other program participants—generally 2–3 per room. Some meals, including breakfast, a welcome meal, and a farewell meal, are included in the program fee.

While in Thailand, the surroundings will become your classroom, and you will explore and experience the seminar coursework through site visits. These excursions will take place in Chiang Mai and surrounding areas, and may include:

• visits to 3 elephant facilities (camp, hospital, and center),
• a Karen village,
• Chiang Mai University,
• Buddhist temples,
• a healthcare facility.

These excursions are designed to facilitate your understanding of the context and systems that are in place to protect the health of the people, animals, and environment of Thailand.

Understand the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

• Compare in depth at least one SDG between the Twin Cities and Chiang Mai and the role culture plays in influencing situations, strategies, and approaches.
• Articulate the underlying principles and stakeholders of the One Health approach, which focuses on the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.
• Describe the competencies needed for effective interprofessional teamwork.
• Explain the role of culture when working in interprofessional teams and the varied perspectives and approaches that need to be respected to solve complex health challenges.

Influence of Culture

• Define culture and related concepts and practices, which will promote awareness of personal and cultural identity.
• Describe the influence culture (norms, wisdom, traditions etc) has on disease, health practices (prevention and treatment), social determinants of health, and healthcare systems between Thailand, the US, and India.
• Explain how the Thai culture influences the conditions that impact disease.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the Observe-Describe-Interpret-Evaluate model and how this cultural awareness tool can be transferred to diagnostic problem solving.

Professionalism

• Explain the importance of self-reflection for individuals, as well as those who are part of a team.
• Reflect on the qualities of professionals across cultures.
• Demonstrate cultural humility and culturally respectful professionalism.

This Seminar is co-led by Jeffrey Ratliff-Crain, Ph.D., Psychology professor in the interdisciplinary Center for Learning Innovation (CLI) at the Rochester campus of the University of Minnesota, and by Kathleen Culhane-Pera, Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Twin Cities campus.

Jeffrey received his doctorate in Medical Psychology, emphasizing stress, coping, and health-affecting behaviors, and has focused on how study away, research, and other enrichment opportunities connect to students' learning and development.

Upon return, this course will be taught on-campus by Jeffrey Ratliff-Crain and Dr. Karin Hamilton, DVM, MPH, Coordinator and Instructor, Global Programs, Pre-Health Student Resource Center.

Information Sessions

Join in-person or over Zoom. Register and learn more about this and other events on our events page.

Wednesdays 1:25–2:15 p.m., for the first 7 weeks of class; East Bank

Pre-departure orientation meetings for this program have been scheduled for:

Winter Break 2024–2025 cost of participation forthcoming.

The cost of participation includes educational costs, group flight airfare, program administration, housing, all meals, international health insurance, entrances to course-related excursions and site visits, and local transportation. Generally, program fees to these locations range between $7,500–$9,000.  Program fees can vary widely due to location, cost of living, airfare, and program inclusions. You must also budget for visa, passport and passport photos, meals not included in the program fee, spending money, and miscellaneous living expenses.

Recent increases in international airfare and accommodation costs have impacted all instructor-led program fees. The LAC strives to follow best practices to provide the lowest cost program while ensuring a quality academic experience.

Your participation on this program is secured by applying and confirming through the Learning Abroad Center application process first.

Once confirmed, you will also need to register for the on-campus course AHS 3002. You will receive a permission code in order to register for the course.

Note: Registering for the course, but not confirming through the Learning Abroad Center, will not hold your spot in the program.