08/11/2026
From Athens to Oaxaca, Mexico, one of our Public Health Dawgs took what she learned in the classroom into communities around the world! 🐾🌎
Health promotion major Bridget Perez spent two weeks in Oaxaca, Mexico, as a medical outreach intern with VAW Global Health Alliances. She worked alongside local physicians, nurses, community partners, and fellow interns in mobile clinics serving underserved and rural communities.
“My days included traveling to different communities, setting up clinics which could be anywhere even in the middle of a flea market, taking vital signs such as manual blood pressures on patients, and learning alongside local healthcare professionals,” Bridget said. “Outside the clinic time, living with a host family, experiencing Oaxacan traditions, and spending time within the communities helped me better understand the importance of cultural competency and community connection.”
“The experience showed me that public health and clinical care go hand in hand. Improving health means not only caring for individual patients, but also addressing barriers to healthcare, promoting prevention through patient education, understanding culture, and building relationships with the communities we serve.”
