International Health Club Encourages Students to Explore Global Issues
Students attending Midwestern University have several opportunities to learn about and participate in global health initiatives and international medicine.
Members of the International Health Club pack food for Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit organization that coordinates the packaging and distribution of food to people in developing nations. Pictured from left: Mandy Weaver (CCOM ’26), Joseph Nangachiveettil (CCOM ’26), Hannah Oram (CCOM ’26), and Sahar Virani (CCOM ’26).
Midwestern University’s library maintains an online database offering information about how to prepare for international health experiences and rotations, information about Doctors of Osteopathy CARE (DOCARE) International, travel resources, and other important information.
On the Downers Grove Campus, the student-run International Health Club provides a platform for students and faculty to exchange ideas, share experiences, collaborate with organizations, and access resources related to global health, education, and awareness. “We host different talks, organize events and fundraisers focused on global health, education, and awareness,” said Sahar Virani (CCOM ’26), the current club president. “It’s a good organization for anyone to join and it is open to all students because learning more about other cultures and international health, in general, makes you a more culturally competent healthcare provider, which I think is important for anyone regardless of where you want to practice.”
This summer, two students from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine will be traveling to Cameroon and Kenya to participate in medical missions. “We are traveling to Cameroon on July 1st to work with Dr. Georges Bwelle and his nonprofit organization, Association des Competences Pour Une Vie Meilleure (Association of Skills for a Better Life), or ASCOVIM,” said Zach Coats (CCOM ’27) and Kelly Konicek (CCOM ’27) in a joint interview. “We will be traveling to rural villages along with Dr. Bwelle to aid his team in providing free medical treatment and then we will head to Kenya to work with another nonprofit, Foothold International, for another week of medical missions.”
They learned about the trip by speaking with fourth-year CCOM students who previously journeyed to Cameroon and are excited about this opportunity to enhance their patient care skills. “We are looking forward to offering any sort of relief and support for the healthcare team that works sun-up to sun-down treating patients who walk for miles to receive the free, life-changing healthcare,” Zach said. “It is an amazing privilege to have this opportunity to travel to a new country and gain a humbling perspective of the healthcare conditions that the patients receiving treatment from ASCOVIME are so grateful to have. Through this experience, we can only hope to bring back a small part of Dr. Bwelle and his team’s endless drive and enhance the lives of our future patients and communities.”
Kelly added that the medical mission trip is an opportunity for them to put their classroom learning into real-world practice. "Several classes have exposed us to symptoms we may encounter from patients on a day-to-day basis. While seeing patients in the villages of Cameroon, we will be able to put our problem-solving skills to the test," she said.
Both students feel that this experience will foster greater cultural understanding and empathy, essential qualities for effective healthcare. “As future providers, we will be exposed to patients from a multitude of cultures, experiences, and livelihoods. By seeking experiences like these and seeing different parts of the world, we will discover how to learn about different cultures, peoples, and traditions outside of our own," Zach said. Elaborating on that thought, Kelly added, “Patients want to feel seen, heard, and cared for by a physician who understands them. By building cultural competency, we will expand our ability to care for each of our patients in a more empathetic and holistic manner.”
