Surveying healthcare needs around the world.
ABOUT
M-HEAL initiated the Service Abroad and Needs Assessment (SANA) program in 2015, with the intention of initiating a partnership between UM students and underdeveloped communities: students will gain invaluable communication skills and cultural competency and communities will gain access to UM's resources and committed students. A SANA team typically consists of around 10 students from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds, and experiences. In the past SANA has been an annual spring break trip to an international community outside of the U.S., historically in Latin America. Differentiating from typical voluntourism trips, SANA is committed to forming long term partnerships with the communities it visits. Throughout the fall and winter semesters and during the trip, we will emphasize the importance of community involvement and cultural intelligence building.
BEFORE THE TRIP
Throughout the year, we will prepare for the needs assessment portion of the trip by developing interview guides and learning about the community. We will also plan any form of service we want to provide based on virtual meetings with community members leading up to the trip.
AFTER THE TRIP
Post trip students will filter need assessment statements and continue communication with the community to maintain a healthy and sustainable relationship into the future. Students will have the opportunity to continue their involvement in SANA and MHEAL throughout their time at UM by working with other MHEAL members to develop a medical device or educational program that addresses one of the community’s identified needs.
Pooja Kolli
kpooja@umich.edu
DURING THE TRIP
During the trip, we will conduct interviews with doctors, patients, local community members, and other healthcare providers to better understand the needs of the community. Students will also dedicate time to actively giving back to the community through some form of service learning about local food and culture, going on fun excursions, and participating in group reflections.
WHAT THE 2020-2021 YEAR WILL LOOK LIKE
This year, due to changes in our academic calendar, we will be travelling in early May 2021 (exact dates TBD). This trip will be a continuation of last year’s trip to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, where we will have the opportunity to continue conducting needs assessment (specifically focused on how needs may have changed post-COVID-19) as well as implement some kind of service based on the needs statements we collected during the March 2020 trip. The project that we implement will be something that will evolve throughout this year based on our communications with Puerto Peñasco partners.
Nikhil Mantena
nmantena@umich.edu
Questions? Email our SANA Directors.
