Hi! My name is Haleigh Jones, and I am a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Public Health with a minor in Exercise Science while pursuing the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) pathway. As a first-generation college student, studying abroad was something I always hoped I would have the opportunity to do, but never knew if it would actually be possible. This summer, I am excited to participate in Pitt’s Himalayan Health Program in India.

When I began looking at study abroad opportunities, I knew I wanted an experience that would connect directly to my interests in healthcare and public health. Many programs focused primarily on tourism or classroom learning, but the Himalayan Health Program stood out because it combines public health, healthcare, and hands-on learning. This program gave me the opportunity to earn my Wilderness First Responder, Epinephrine Auto-Injector, and Adult/Child CPR certifications, gain observation hours through clinical rotations, visit communities to analyze public health measures, and experience a healthcare system very different from the one in the United States.

Before coming to India, I had never traveled outside of the United States, so I had a lot of questions about what healthcare and daily life would look like in another country. In my public health courses, we often discuss health disparities, access to care, and social determinants of health, but I was curious about what those concepts actually looked like in practice. I wanted to learn how people living in remote mountain villages access healthcare and other essential resources, and how geography, culture, and religion influence health and healthcare decisions.

Through this experience, I hope to gain a better understanding of global health and how healthcare systems operate outside of the United States. I am especially excited for the Wilderness First Responder course because it will allow me to develop practical emergency response skills while learning how healthcare providers deliver care in resource-limited environments. I am also looking forward to learning from local community members, healthcare providers, and professors whose experiences are very different from my own.

One challenge I anticipate is adapting to an environment that is completely unfamiliar to me. This will be my first time traveling internationally, my first time visiting a mountainous region, and my first major hiking experience. However, I am excited to step outside of my comfort zone and believe this experience will help me become more independent, adaptable, and confident. I hope to leave this program not only with new academic and professional knowledge, but also with a greater understanding of different cultures, healthcare practices, and ways of life.

I am excited to begin this journey and look forward to sharing my experiences throughout my time in India!