Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

I will be traveling to India next summer to spend four weeks in a Global Health Education Program with Child Family Health International. Donating through this website is simple, fast and completely secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. Because CFHI is not directly affiliated with the University of Texas, I am unable to receive any financial aid for the program. I will be paying my entire program fee, airfare, and any extra expenses myself. The money raised through this FirstGiving page will go directly toward my CFHI program fee, which is used to support the underserved communities in India that I will be working with. If you decide you would like to financially support my participation in this program, you will receive a receipt from CFHI for your tax-deductible donation as well as details about how your donation will be used.

CFHI is a global family of health professionals and students working at the grassroots level to promote the health of the world community. They support their International Partners though community health projects and Global Health Immersion Programs. CFHI's 20+ programs in 5 countries connect local health professionals with international students -transforming perspectives about self, global health and healing.

CFHI is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations.

WHAT CFHI DOES:

* foster learning and service that sparks transformational personal change for all involved
* work to achieve sustainable solutions in healthcare services and disease prevention
* emphasize respect and understanding across cultures
* facilitate the sharing of medical resources, knowledge, and experience
* give priority to underserved communities

During the month of July, I will have the unique opportunity to study the traditional and indigenous systems of medicine in India. I will study the philosophies behind Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, and Reiki. In addition to learning about traditional medicine, I'll also observe how these practices may interact with Allopathic or Western methods and gain an understanding of the importance of cross-cultural competency in diagnosing patients who may be receiving a combination of modern and traditional treatments.

I will be traveling through three locations during the duration of the program. Two weeks will be spent in the capital city of Dehra Dun and one week in the hill town of Rishikesh. The last week will be spent in Patti, a rural village. Traveling through multiple towns means that I'll be able to experience a variety of sites in my clinical rotations, from a primary care clinic in a rural village to the tertiary care hospital run by the state government. I will gain first-hand experience in methods of diagnosis and treatment as they work with clinical practitioners who use Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Homeopathy and Allopathy. Clinical immersion will be supplemented with daily yoga classes, lectures, and workshops on traditional medicine.

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for me to study abroad while contributing to the healthcare system in India. This experience will benefit me on an educational as well as personal level. It has always been a dream of mine to find a way to contribute to the global community in a concrete and meaningful way. I see this program with CFHI as an important first step in achieving that goal. When I come back to Austin in August, I will complete my degree at the University of Texas. As I work toward a career in the medical field, I expect a future full of intellectual and emotional challenges and victories, and I thank you so much for all of your continued support.

Again, many many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!