Greece Healthcare Service-Learning Report

Auburn University Outreach Global
Website: auburn.edu/outreach/global

Report prepared by: Mac-Jane Crayton, Ph.D
Coordinator, Outreach Global

The Health Care Service-Learning Program in Greece, organized byAuburn University (AU) Outreach Global in partnership with AUColleges of Education, Nursing and Pharmacy, in collaboration withDoctors of the World, Greece aimed to provide valuable healthcareservices to underserved communities in Greece while offering animmersive learning experience for students. This report presents anoverview of the program, including its objectives, implementation,outcomes, and sustainability goals.

Program Overview:

The Greece healthcare program was designed toaddress the healthcare needs of underservedcommunities while providing students withvaluable learning experiences and culturalimmersion. It was a collaborative effort involvingColleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Education,partnering with local healthcare organizations -Doctors of the World, Greece, and communityleaders - the mayor and deputy mayor of Athens.The program aimed to improve access tohealthcare, enhance student learning, andpromote sustainable community development.

Objectives:

1. To deliver essential healthcare services tovulnerable populations in Greece.
2. To provide students with practical learningopportunities and cultural immersion.
3. To foster interprofessional collaborationbetween nursing and pharmacy students.
4. To enhance participants' understanding ofglobal health challenges and solutions.
5. To contribute to sustainable communitydevelopment through health education andempowerment.

80% of student particiapnts in the Greece Healthcare service-learning program responded that they have traveled abroad prior to this program. Only 20% of participants have never traveled abraod.
The demographics of the participants in the healthcare program in Greece were diverse, representing various medical-related academic backgrounds and colleges within Auburn University.

Academic Backgrounds

While the majority of program participants were Nursing students in their senior year, each participant shared the common goal to broaden their healthcare experience and serve the community while learning about the Greek culture.

The program was executed over a period of 10 days from June 23 - July 2, 2023. A total of 42 students from Auburn University Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and other departments participated, accompanied by 11 faculty members and Support Staff. The program benefited from strong collaborations with Doctors of the World. This partnership facilitated effective program implementation, resource mobilization, and community engagement.

100%

of program participants shared that it was eye-opening and important medical services provided to the community.

100%

of volunteers were enthusiastic about the medical health provided to refugees and community members in Greece.

1. Service Delivery: Following the directives of the Doctors of the World, Greece, our students, faculty, and staff were grouped into 3 camps: Group A, B, and C. Based on the activity for each day, each group was assigned tasks where they participated in health clinic visits, medical, history examinations, and medical services. Although many of the activities each day were more observatory for AU nursing, pharmacy, healthcare administration, and biomedical students, the program fostered interprofessional collaboration and facilitated a holistic approach to patient care, promoting teamwork and an empathetic approach to healthcare.

2. Cultural Immersion: Participants engaged in cultural immersion experiences, such as language learning, exploring local traditions and museum visits to the Acropolis and Delphi, and interaction with the community members. These immersions deepened their understanding of Greek culture, enhanced their cross-cultural competence, and fostered a sense of empathy and cultural sensitivity.

3. Health Education and Empowerment: Doctors of the World, Greece facilitated healthcare orientation and showed historical videos that provided insight into the history and services provided by Doctors of the World. During the program, the prevalent cases examined were homelessness, mental health, root canal treatment, STD/HIV, STI, pediatric, and general practitioner requests.

Overall, the Greece healthcare program provided transformative learning experiencesfor students. Compared to the Ghana healthcare program which was the hands-onapproach, the Greece service learning focused more on students observing and jobshadowing Doctors of the World, Greece. In Ghana, the prevalent cases were eye issues and headaches, compared to Greece where the prevalent issue was mental health and refugee-related issues, which resulted in a high percentage of homelessness.Additionally, the majority of patients in Ghana were female, whereas, in Greece, moremen came for medical assistance.

Program Outcomes:

What Next?

The Outreach Global office aims tocontinue expanding suchinterdisciplinary collaboration andprovide more opportunities for AUstudents, faculty, and staff acrossthe globe.

The Outreach Global office expresses its gratitude to its campus partners - theCollege of Nursing, the Harrison College of Pharmacy, and the Department ofElementary Education for supporting the 2023 Greece healthcare program.Special thanks to Doctors of the World, Greece for their unwavering support,collaboration, and shared vision in advancing healthcare and communitydevelopment. Their contributions have been invaluable, and we look forward tocontinued partnership and collective efforts in future initiatives to engagemore globally while learning and immersing in diverse multiculturalexperiences.