Hello, World!

!Bienvenidos!  Welcome to my OaxacaAbroad blog, which serves as a descriptive and visual reflection of my experience of living, studying, and rotating throughout health centers and the state hospital in the beautiful and historical city of Oaxaca de Juárez, México also known as Oaxaca City, Mexico.  My name is Abel and I am a recent graduate of the University of California, Davis with a double major in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior (NPB) and Spanish.  For three months (September to December 2011), I participated in the Latino/a Health Internship Program in Oaxaca, México.  In coordination with the UC Davis Quarter Abroad office and Child Family Health International (CFHI), a non-profit from San Francisco, CA, I was able to submerse myself in the local culture while also learning about the health system in México.  I chose to apply to this CFHI program because of the great feedback that I had heard from past participants.  I knew that the rotations would provide me with an up-close view of the medical practices in México; information that would help me better understand the cultural factors that influence the health of Latino/a patients.

I am very thankful for the scholarship that I received on behalf of CFHI.  The scholarship enabled me to participate in this life changing and eye-opening experience.  The knowledge that I accumulated will help me become a more culturally sensitive physician who will always keep as a priority the needs of the patients.

My three-month stay in Oaxaca was divided between lectures, clinical rotations and brigades work.  On Mondays and Tuesdays, our university professor and our local medical director held lectures on issues of bi-national health.  Some of the topics covered included: emotional intelligence, immigration and health, U.S. vs. México health systems, and culture and death.  While in Oaxaca City, we rotated throughout the local health centers and the hospitals from Wednesday to Friday.  During our three-week stay in Puerto Escondido, we participated in brigades work covering family planning, tropical diseases, and gender inequalities.

A Southern Gem: Oaxaca, México

Close to the Guatemala border, Oaxaca, México is a vibrant, mid-sized city with a mixture of modern and indigenous cultures.  Colonial architecture and churches in almost every corner takes you back in time.  From tamales to mole negro, there is food everywhere.  The state with the most indigenous groups, Oaxaca City is full of hand-made art that is sure to put a dent in your luggage and your bank account.

Clinical Rotations at the local Health Centers.

Medical conditions presented in the classroom became real when shadowing at the health centers and the general state hospital.  White coat on and stethoscope around my neck gave me an unlimited access to primary care consultations, surgery rooms, delivery rooms, and the emergency department.  Observing patient to nurse/doctor interactions helped me understand the differences that exist between countries in terms of culture and professionalism.  I learned that although we may be under high stress, have limited resources, and flooded with patients, it’s important to remain calm, professional, and empathetic to the patient’s needs.

 

Surgery Time! Rotations at the State Hospital.

The health rotations in Oaxaca opened my eyes to a different definition of what “acceptable” health care means in different places.  Observing a high volume of unprofessionalism, I was able to better grasp the negative impact that it can have on patients and the relationship they have with their health provider.  From my experience in Oaxaca, I will be sure to always maintain a professional and empathetic relationship with my future patients.  Being sensitive to their needs will ensure an honest relationship full of trust that will lead to a better diagnosis and treatment.

Brigades work: Family Planning Time!

For three amazing weeks, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, México became our home.  Besides all the fun in the sun, we had some serious duty time.  Our first task was to create and execute a family planning presentation to local middle school students.  With bright-colored diagrams, skits, and demonstrations, we informed the students about contraceptives, where to access them, and how to properly use them.

Our family planning discussion later evolved into a talk on sexuality.  At their prime age of development and curiosity, the middle-school-aged students were eager to ask questions about sex and sexually transmitted diseases.  To create a more comfortable setting, we split the boys and the girls into two groups.  As the only male member of my group, I was responsible for accurately responding to the questions posed by the future young men. Interestingly, many of the boys had questions about how to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Brigades: Chagas/Dengue/Malaria.

An a ecologically rich state, Oaxaca is also home to many vectors capable of transmitting tropical diseases.  Using a community-based strategy, state vector control agencies recruit locals to help bring an end to the these life-treatening and preventable diseases.  Split into three groups, it was the responsibility of every group to accurately and enthusiastically inform high school students about chagas, dengue, and malaria.  I was pleasantly surprised that many students were already well informed about these tropical diseases.  After our presentations, the students had to perform a skit that demonstrated their familiarity with the diseases, how they are transmitted, and what actions can be taken to prevent their transmission.

Before, however, we joined local vector control units to hunt down the vectors and their hosts.  Sent into swampy lands, we searched for vectors.

Cultural Exchange.

As a person of color, my cultural background enabled me to quickly form strong bonds with the local physicians and gain the trust of the patients.  The physicians were very happy to work with a native Spanish speaker knowing they would have to spend time less clarifying language miscommunications.  Having a cultural and language connection with me, the physicians felt more comfortable with my patient interactions and were able to give me more responsibilities.  However, even though I have Mexican roots, I was able to see clear differences between my mannerisms and professionalism compared to those of the local physicians.   As an American, my perception of “acceptable” patient interactions revolves around a high-level respect and sensitivity.  In many instances, I observed much gossiping between the health personnel and the patients, which I deem as unacceptable in a consultation.