Health & Medicine in India

Mysore, India, is a mid-sized city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka known for its beautiful palaces, ornate temples, and royal heritage. This global experience will allow you to more fully understand health, healthcare, and public health in the context of a historical culture and a rapidly developing economy of India. 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 complexity of health needs, especially in under-resourced communities throughout the world. Mysore, India, is an ideal place to learn about the unique challenges faced in urban and rural communities in southern India.

Course Description

In this course, explore areas in and around Mysore, India, to compare the social and cultural contexts of Indian and American health and medicine. While abroad, take classes at Vivekananda Institute of Indian Studies (VIIS), an educational institution of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), a leading NGO in the field of health and development in India. At SVYM, take classes taught by physicians who have worked in a variety of roles in the Indian health care system.

Prior to departure for India, you will be assigned to teams and given a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to focus on while in India. You will gather information and perspectives on site to be able to compare and contrast your SDG between India and the US/Minnesota, which you will present at the end of the course.

For the two weeks in India, learn from health professionals, travel to rural communities and urban centers, and explore the dynamics of a rapidly developing community with significant health and wealth disparities. Observe the role that culture plays as it interacts with health and health care in a country that still faces the remnants of being colonized. Explore the SDGs and the progress India is making towards those goals.

Upon returning to the University of Minnesota, you will continue exploring global health by comparing and contrasting aspects of health in India and the US. You will finalize your teams’ SDG project and prepare to present at the end of the class.

You will stay in shared rooms in dormitories within walking distance of the education center. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided, offering a wide array of vegetarian Indian meals. 

Field visits and excursions will illuminate the coursework and may include:

• Mysore Palace and Chamundi Temple
• Mysore Medical College and Hospital
• The ancient city of Sharavanabelagoa
• All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH)
• a local hospital
• an elephant camp

Understand the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

• Compare in depth at least one SDG between the Twin Cities and Mysore 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 Indian 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 as an individual and as a team.
• Reflect on the qualities of professionals across cultures.
• Demonstrate cultural humility and culturally respectful professionalism.

The Program leader for this Seminar is Dana Lovold, MPH, Career Counselor and Instructor in the Pre-Health Student Resource Center. She has led multiple student programs to Ecuador, France, India, and Thailand related to global health, interprofessional/One Health, and intercultural development.

The on-campus portion of this seminar is taught by Dana Lovold and Karin Hamilton, DVM, MPH, Coordinator and Instructor, Global Programs, Pre-Health Student Resource Center. Karin also has extensive experience working globally in 22 countries in health fields and has led multiple student programs to Ecuador, France, India, Panama, and Thailand related to global health, interprofessional/One Health, and intercultural development.

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 

During the final week of class an additional poster presentation will be required from 5:00–7:30 p.m.

Winter Break 2025-2026 Cost of Participation forthcoming

The cost of participation includes educational costs, group flight airfare, program administration, housing, most meals, international health insurance, entrances to course-related excursions and site visits, and local transportation. Program fees can vary widely due to location, cost of living, airfare, and program inclusions. This program tends to range between $5000-$6500. You must also budget for visa, passport and passport photos, meals not included (most are included), 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 3001. 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.