Global Health in Thailand

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

Over 2 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 7 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
• Doi Inthanon (mountain hike)
• Healthcare facilities
• Buddhist temples

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)

• Using at least 1 SDG, compare Thailand and Minnesota and the roles culture, social structure, government, public policy, economics, and history play 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 health practices (prevention and treatment), and healthcare systems between Thailand and the US.
• Explain how Thai culture, religion, social structure, government/public policy, and economics influence the socio-economic environmental conditions and social determinants of health 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 and teams.
• Reflect on the qualities of professionals across cultures.
• Demonstrate cultural humility and culturally respectful professionalism.

The course has 2 faculty leaders:

Whitney Oachs (they/them) is the Student Services and Program Coordinator at the Pre-Health Student Resource Center. They hold a bachelor's degree in History from the University of St. Thomas and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Whitney is passionate about global learning and cross-cultural exchange, and their values emphasize cultural immersion, critical thinking, and respectful engagement with local communities. They are committed to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment, helping students navigate new experiences while fostering personal growth and global awareness. 

Dana Hegre Lovold, MPH: Dana (she/her) is a public health professional with nearly 12 years of experience working with undergraduate pre-health students. She teaches several courses through the Pre-Health Student Resource Center and has led numerous global programs, including this course. Dana believes that global health and cultural exploration are important aspects of preparing for a health profession, and she enjoys facilitating students' reflection on their experiences and supporting students in making connections to their learning, development, and future careers.

Department Run Information Session

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

Program fees can vary widely due to location, cost of living, airfare, and program inclusions. The program fee generally includes tuition, airport transfers, in-country program related transportation, housing, some meals, entrances to course-related excursions and site visits, program administration, and international health insurance. You must also budget for your flight, visa, passport and passport photos, meals not included in the program fee, spending money, and miscellaneous living expenses.

You must complete the Learning Abroad Center application by the application deadline (October 1, 2026) in order to be considered for this program.

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.