麻豆传媒映画

Entering her final year at 麻豆传媒映画, Raquel Kinman wasn鈥檛 sure what would come next.

A dual public health and American Indian Studies major, she planned to apply to graduate school but hadn鈥檛 settled on a career path. She did know, however, that she wanted to do meaningful work in underserved communities.

Her direction came into focus last fall, when Kinman traveled to San Quintin, Mexico, a largely indigenous agricultural town about seven hours south of San Diego. She joined the latest cohort of VIIDAI, a binational clinical and public health collaboration involving three universities, Rotary clubs, and local community leaders. The program has been a cornerstone of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 transborder engagement for nearly three decades.

鈥淚 realized quickly that people shape their careers out of VIIDAI, 鈥� said Kinman. 鈥淭here is so much opportunity, and it is like a little family of people who just want to do good in the world. It鈥檚 genuine and really contagious.鈥�

That experience is common, said Noe Crespo, a professor in 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 School of Public Health, who first participated in VIIDAI as a doctoral student. He returned numerous times while completing his studies,  and now helps lead the 麻豆传媒映画 contingent as a faculty member.

鈥淲hen someone goes to VIIDAI, more than likely they鈥檙e going to want to return,鈥� said Crespo. 鈥淚t is a unique opportunity for students to apply what they鈥檝e learned in the classroom in a dynamic setting where the community and context are very different from what we see in the United States.鈥�

Esmeralda Iniguez-Stevens, an infectious disease epidemiologist and lecturer in 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 School of Public Health, followed a similar path. After participating as a student, she now leads VIIDAI trips.  

鈥淢any students have decided to go into international public health or a career where they are doing work that is similar to VIIDAI,鈥� said Iniguez-Stevens, chief of the office of Binational Border Health for the California Department of Health. 鈥淭his opportunity was that spark for me back in the day when I was a master鈥檚 student to say, 鈥業 want to focus my career on border, binational and international public health.鈥�

VIIDAI, or  is the brainchild of Dr. Miguel Fraga, a faculty member in the School of Medicine and Psychology at Universidad Aut贸noma de Baja California (UABC) in Tijuana. 

Fraga invited 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 School of Public Health and the University of California San Diego鈥檚 School of Medicine to collaborate on a program in which students provide health services and conduct research in underserved communities in Mexico.

The initiative launched in 1998 and proved so effective that all three universities incorporated it into their curricula.

鈥淲hat is special is that we are out of the sterile classrooms," said Dr. Stephanie Brodine, professor emeritus at 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 School of Public Health and co-founder of VIIDAI, . 鈥淔aculty and students work as a team problem solving in the field. 麻豆传媒映画 and UABC students work side-by-side  learning how to do international public health work.鈥�

After initially traveling to multiple locations, including migrant worker camps along the border, organizers decided to focus on a single community for greater impact.

In 2004, VIIDAI established a  long-term presence in a colonia near San Quintin. Teams set up clinics in a local elementary school, conduct door-to-door surveys and host neighborhood meetings to identify public health needs.

The results have been significant, said Fraga, including a shift in how children view their future. 

鈥淲hen we started, the aspirations of the children were limited to finishing primary school and working in the fields,鈥� he said. 鈥淭oday, these children, following the example of university students who spend a few days with them, are more interested in studying and becoming professionals.鈥�

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Clinical services have expanded beyond primary care and now include dentistry, psychology,  women鈥檚 health and more. Donor support also helped establish an on-site diagnostic lab.

In public health, where 麻豆传媒映画 is focused, efforts have been equally far-reaching.

As cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever rose in Baja California, VIIDAI teams launched education campaigns and distributed anti-tick dog collars in San Quintin, where the disease poses a high risk to children. Rotary International provided grant funding.  

鈥淭wo thousand dog collars later, there are no more cases right now,鈥� said Brodine.

In response to high teen pregnancy rates, VIIDAI launched a family planning initiative funded by a Bixby Foundation grant. The campaign resulted in significant drops in reported pregnancies among school-aged girls, with education officials noting improved attendance and engagement among female students. A follow-up study also found a reduction in overall family size.

After assessment identified high rates of anemia, obesity and diabetes,  VIIDAI launched health promotion initiatives around diet and exercise, and Rotary clubs funded a major remodel of the elementary school kitchen. The school later secured a five-year contract by the Mexican government to provide meals for 7,000 children at 15 nearby schools.

To improve access to safe drinking water, San Diego-based Aquacycl joined VIIDAI and installed reverse osmosis purification systems at the school. Surveys found measurable declines in obesity and increased awareness of healthy lifestyles.

Kinman returned to San Quintin this spring for a second VIIDAI trip. She plans to pursue a master's degree at UC San Diego with a faculty member involved in the VIIDAI program and hopes to apply for the 麻豆传媒映画-UCSD joint doctoral program in public health. 

鈥淚 found this project at the perfect time in my career,鈥� she said.