The global health impact of a multidisciplinary medical service trip: lessons from Belize

Abstract

# Background The Rush University Belize Immersion Experience (RUBIE) aims to engage healthcare professionals in a multidisciplinary team to build a home for a deserving Belizean family. A complimentary purpose of this program is for team members to achieve cultural immersion and a broader understanding of healthcare disparities in Belize. # Methods In December 2015, 10 students and 4 faculty members from Rush University Medical Center traveled to Belize City for six days. Through partnering with Hand in Hand Ministries (HHM) Building for Change program, participants were instructed by HHM staff on how to build the house daily until the sixteen square-foot home was completed. When team members were not working on the house, they volunteered in a local geriatric clinic, participated in discussions with healthcare and social service professionals, and interacted with local residents. # Results Building the house took approximately three days to complete. Participants gained collaborative and social skills from the teamwork and interaction with local residents while building the house. The entire experience provided students the opportunity to learn first-hand about the health issues impacting the citizens of Belize. The primary outcome produced a brand new house for a family living in extreme poverty, giving them a clean and safe shelter. The RUBIE program achieved the educational goal of immersing multidisciplinary health professionals on the challenges Belizean residents face everyday and the impact of public health issues. # Conclusions The RUBIE program immersed healthcare professionals in a new country and culture allowing them to work and learn together and accomplish the goal of providing clean shelter to a family in need. The impact of building one house in Belize may seem small, but this team contributed to the over 300 houses built by HHM's Building for Change program. The sum of clean shelter built over time will have long lasting effects on the Belizean health and economy. Overall, RUBIE team members took home knowledge and motivation to change the state of global health through their individual disciplines. Their collective experiences will continue to guide their efforts toward bringing quality, equitable healthcare to all the citizens of the world.