March 30, 2009
Four Saint Francis University PA students have recently been accepted by Child Family Health International to complete a four week international clinical rotation in Cape Town, South Africa. The clinical rotation will focus on internal medicine and infectious disease. Child Family Health International (CFHI) is the leading nongovernmental organization (NGO) in placing health science on global health education programs around the world.
The four students, Katelin Burger, Lauren Phillips, Christine Rodgers, and Lindsey Stotler were chosen after applying for the opportunity earlier this year. The group will spend time with medical providers from Victoria Hospital, Earste River Community Health Center, as well as several other site. They will experience first-hand the healthcare challenges facing South Africa today. Previously, under the Apartheid regine, the vast majority of people had limited or non-existent healthcare until the early to mid 1990's. Since then, South Africa's health care system has made great strides in its efforts to reach underserved communities. Since the end of the Apartheid, South Africa has emerged as a critical battleground for the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
To view pictures of Katelin and Lauren's first trip to South Africa, click here.
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From May 15, 2006 thur June 18, 2006, under the direction of Reverend Gabriel Zeis, T.O.R., Dr. Rosemary Bertocci (rbertocci@francis.edu) initiated the "South Africa Service-Study Abroad Project" for faculty, students, and alumni in health related fields. Katelin Maggie Burger and Lauren Anne Phillips were two of the students who traveled with Dr. Bertocci and her husband, Dr. Rohlf (Mt. Aloysius College), to Saint Mary's hospital http://www.stmarys.co.za , situated in KwaZulu, Natal (near Durban), the epicentre of the HIV pandemic in South Africa. As the hospital is overcrowded and unable to cope adequately with the patientload, Katie and Lauren, joined in Saint Mary's mission to "serve the poorest of the poor in imitation of Christ," easing the burdens of people living with HIV/AIDS in 3 principle programs: (1) The iThemba Family Care Centre (ARV); (2) The Born to Live Programme (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV); and (3) The Palliative Care Ward. Participating students completed up to 6 university credits, along with their Senior Capstone. (Please see http://www.stmarys.co.za for more information about Saint Mary's.)
To view photos from South Africa, click here.