During clinical rotations at a nearby hospital in Mussoorie, India, I experienced one of my biggest “wow” and “aha” moments of the entire trip. Earlier in the program, one of our guest speakers had mentioned that male children are often preferred over female children, but at the time I did not fully understand the significance…
Tag: Mussoorie- India
Success Around the Globe
Before this program, I never really questioned how I defined success. Growing up in the United States, success often seemed tied to education, occupation, financial stability, and social status. As I spent more time in India and listened to the experiences of the people around me, I found myself reflecting on whether those were the…
Home from India!
It has only been a couple of days since returning home from India, and I have already found myself reflecting on the daily experiences that became normal over the six weeks I spent there. In many ways, I find myself experiencing more culture shock now than I did while I was in India. Returning home…
Haleigh’s Heading to the Himalya’s
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…
What India Taught Me About Medicine and Myself
My time in India reshaped my understanding of health. I realized the power and privilege of medicine. That while it should never be a luxury, it often times is. And I think sometimes, we as healthcare providers, future healthcare providers, and people from the US forget that. The comparisons between India and the US left…
Saying Goodbye to India
It seems like just yesterday I was packing for an amazing study abroad experience, eager to learn more about the Himalayan region I would be calling home for the next six weeks. Those weeks have now flown by, and I have finally returned home, ready to start a new year at Pitt. From stunning hikes…
Out of Sight, Out of Mind?
One of the most shocking aspects of my time abroad wasn’t seen in a classroom, it was on the sides of roads. During my time in India, I made a conscious effort to observe how the environment was treated. Sustainability or the lack of it quickly emerged as an issue I couldn’t ignore. I became…
Healing in the Hillside: My Aha Moment in India
My visit to Landour Community Hospital was my first true “aha” moment here. Perched on a hillside overlooking the town of Mussoorie, the hospital is small. If you placed it next to a facility like UPMC, the difference would be startling, not just in size but how it operates. With only two doctors managing nearly…
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!
“The top of one mountain is the bottom of another.” This phrase is something I say pretty often to myself, but I never quite understood it until I came to the Himalayas. I’ve been in India for about a month now, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic and…
Off to India!
As I packed my bags to fly off to the other side of the world, I was so excited to get to experience new cultures in India. While I can’t wait to see what’s in store, I’m also thrilled to learn more about traditional medicinal practices here in India and to enjoy the outdoors of…