VCOM 2021 Annual Report

Global Seminar

V COM’s Global Seminar for Health and Environment course is a venue to examine and discuss public health through a case study approach among a consortium of medical students in the United States and Latin America. The 2021 course included 102 students across the four campuses and three international medical schools. Students learned about persistent global health issues, such as food and nutritional needs and potential threats to human life.

Population The Population case from Africa illustrates the problems common to rural villages in impoverished regions and how individuals, non- governmental organizations (NGOs) and world health organizations with means of support should provide assistance. presented the dilemma of malnourishment among populations that suffer from chronic conditions. Inadequate vitamins and minerals in the diet produce terrible medical problems even though the quantity of food is acceptable, along with suffering from hunger and famine . Nutrition The Nutrition case

Infectious Disease The Infectious Disease case is based on tropical diseases and their treatment. Students were asked to diagnose a tropical disease based on a patient’s report of symptoms and discuss treatment options. The case asked students to consider patient compliance with treatment regimens that may interfere with their employment, political status and lifestyle. The students also considered the patient preferences for cultural or ethnobotanical

Water The Water case is founded on the Ozama River and provided students with an opportunity to analyze how water pollution has significant impacts on human health. The case also examined the poor villages and how it affects the tourism industry in the Dominican Republic. The case study asked students to consider the importance of the human impact on water pollution and how it affects children exposed when swimming, fishing, or drinking contaminated water.

treatment options and bioprospecting issues.

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