WVU students gain global health experience through Nancy Sanders grant
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Five West Virginia University students recently completed international healthcare experiences made possible by the Nancy Sanders Memorial Student Study Abroad Travel Award, offered through WVU Health Sciences Global Engagement. The award supports students committed to global health and service.
Established in honor of longtime WVU staff member Nancy Sanders, the award gave this year’s recipients the opportunity to address health disparities and gain hands-on clinical experience in Guatemala, South Africa and Spain.
WVU School of Dentistry students Brianna Hodak and Aashish Pokhrel traveled to Guatemala as part of a mission trip, working alongside faculty and local providers at Hospital de San Pedro in Antigua. They delivered free dental care, including extractions and restorative treatments, to underserved communities with limited access to oral health services.
“This mission was deeply rewarding, both professionally and personally. To make meaningful impact in people’s lives was why I chose to attend a dental school, and this experience reminded me of that goal,” Pokhrel said. “The learning opportunity I received, the connections I made, the gratitude I witnessed and the smiles I helped create will stay with me for a long time. It was a powerful reminder of the impact compassionate care can have, especially in underserved communities.”
WVU School of Pharmacy students Leah Dykstra and Cheyenne Taylor spent five weeks in Cape Town, South Africa, completing an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience rotation. At New Somerset Hospital and other facilities, they collaborated with local professionals to manage medications and care for patients with conditions such as tuberculosis, HIV and hypertension.
“I greatly value experiencing different cultures and believe it is key to expanding my cultural competency to better understand the patients I serve,” Dykstra wrote in her application. “Learning about clinical pharmacy across the globe is essential in spreading knowledge and continuing to enhance the provision of pharmacy practice.”
Bella Bock, a junior in the WVU School of Nursing, traveled to Spain to take part in the weeklong program “The Art of Healthcare in Barcelona and Valencia.” The experience exposed her to Spanish nursing practices, hospital systems and patient care models, offering a comparative perspective on international healthcare.
“I think this experience will really shape my future in healthcare. I was able to see a different culture, talk to nurses working in Spain and see their nursing school at the University of Barcelona,” Bock said. “I saw how well the people in Spain are doing when eating healthy and I would like to incorporate those eating patterns into my patients’ plan of care.”
The program also allowed Bock to explore her interest in travel nursing following graduation.
Through these immersive experiences, WVU students gained a deeper understanding of global health systems, cultural competency and the role of service in addressing health inequities, perspectives they’ll carry into their future careers in healthcare.
To learn more about strategic international partnerships, inter-professional education and participation in select global health initiatives, visit Global Engagement at Health Sciences.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Christie Matyola
Senior Communications Specialist
WVU Health Sciences
732-966-2107; christie.matyola@hsc.wvu.edu