International Programs

Mission: International health involves health care provision for vulnerable populations living in other countries and Mexicans living within the border region of San Diego. Such health care involves clinical service, nursing education, and health research projects with immersion activities designed to meet the health care needs of these vulnerable populations; as well as to develop culturally competent students and faculty, and contribute to the development of a globally aware USD community.

History and Vision: The School of Nursing has been conducting international service learning projects since 2003. Such activities have been and will continue to be framed within the context of direct patient care, conducting needs assessment research as well as intervention research to identify the efficacy of therapies and education provided.

• Border Health. 1-day health care services offered to the people in La Morita colonia in East County Tijuana three to four times yearly. Expansion to Barrio Logan area of San Diego and other communities in Tijuana are being explored.

  Since 2003, 180 USD graduate nursing students, 20 RNs and 20 volunteers from SD community, and 10 USD nursing faculty have participated. This could be open to other USD students depending on their purpose for going.
  #people served since 2003: 1800

• Cuernavaca/Miacatlan, Mexico. Two-week immersion to learn Spanish and provide health care for children in the NPH orphanage. Since 2003, 30 USD graduate nursing students and 8 USD nursing faculty have participated.
  #people served since 2004: 500

  - Kukulcan Language School www.kukulcan.com.mx. Toll free: 1 (866) 357.0803
  - Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos Orphange  http://www.friendsoftheorphans.org and http://www.nph.org

• Dominican Republic. Two-week immersion to provide health care to a community of displaced Haitian and Latin American refugees. Since 2004, 25 USD graduate nursing students and 4 USD faculty have participated.
  #people served since 2004: 2000

  - El Bohio Dominicano www.el-bohio.com/bani

• Mbarara, Uganda. New project begun April, 2006 consulting to build a children’s hospital. Long term goal is to decrease the death of children and improve the health of the community. Six USD graduate nursing students and 1 USD nursing faculty participated in the initial needs assessment. Future work is in conjunction with the school of business, arts and sciences (marine science and chemistry), and the school of peace to address specific community health and environmental needs.

  - Holy Innocents Children’s Malaria Hospital - Uganda
  www.holyinnocentsuganda.org/animated%20presentation2.swf