Global Health

Alec Anderson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health pursuing residency training in family medicine. Anderson has a particular interest in global health, addiction medicine, and medical Spanish.

I had the incredible opportunity to join a One Health-themed field experience in India that brought together participants from the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and several undergraduate programs. Throughout the experience, we explored the many ways human, animal, and environmental health intersect in India through a One Health lens.

I was impressed by the many organizations we visited that are working to improve human health in India, including the NICE Foundation (Neonatal Intensive Care Emergency) based out of Hyderabad. The NICE Foundation emphasizes the health of women and children, particularly those living in rural or tribal communities with limited access to preventive, antenatal, and postnatal care. As a member of a rural training track at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, I was inspired by the many ways this foundation works to overcome the barriers that rural patients face.

One of the most rewarding components of the trip was the opportunity to interact with students and leaders of other disciplines, including veterinary and environmental sciences. These conversations not only provided valuable perspective and insight into the other components of the One Health model but also motivated me to think about how I can continue to engage with multidisciplinary colleagues throughout my future practice.

I left this global health experience with new connections, fresh perspectives, and inspiring experiences that drive me toward the next phase of my medical training. I hope this trip will be one of many immersive experiences that allow me to continue learning and growing alongside others who are working to positively impact the health of their communities.

Published: March 2026

Sam Prince, MD, is an LGBTQ+ Health fellow who was an active member of the Global Health Pathway as a third-year family medicine resident.  

I had the truly special opportunity to partner with the NICE Foundation (Neonatal Intensive Care Emergency) in Hyderabad, India, on a neonatal outcomes research project. This included a two-week immersive visit that was both professionally and personally meaningful.

From day one, I felt welcomed into a community deeply committed to thoughtful, locally driven care. I spent time in their high-acuity neonatal intensive care unit, observed antenatal care visits, and traveled with the NICE Foundation team to rural sites in Paderu and the coastal town of Ranastalam. We joined fixed-day health services serving remote tribal communities and visited elementary and middle schools to see how health education is woven into daily life.

One of my favorite moments was walking through a village near Ranastalam with elementary-aged children, chanting together about handwashing and hygiene as they proudly shared public health messages with their neighbors. I also observed a Helping Babies Breathe refresher course with traditional birth attendants — a full-circle experience, as our Global Health Pathway residents had recently trained to become Helping Babies Breathe facilitators.

Traveling alongside veterinary students during my first week added a One Health perspective through visits to poultry farms and veterinary clinics. This was one of the most meaningful global health experiences I have had, and I left inspired, grateful, and hopeful to return. For residents interested in immersive, relationship-based global health work, the Global Health Pathway — and the opportunity to visit partnership sites — can be career changing. I know it was for me.

Published: February 2026

Marion McKinney is a third-year medical student in the Path of Distinction in Public Health with a strong interest in global health, health equity, and cross-cultural approaches to medicine.

One of my greatest goals in medicine is to better understand how different cultures approach health, wellness, and daily life. I believe this kind of cultural insight is key to becoming a thoughtful, well-rounded physician, especially in family medicine, where providers are often the first point of care for people from all walks of life.

Through the UW International Academic Program’s Thailand Field School, we explored health care in Thailand, from national policies to rural communities. One aspect that stood out to me was how intentionally the system is built: everyone, no matter where they live, is within 30 minutes of a health care facility. This is made possible by a tiered system in which village health volunteers play a critical role. These volunteers provide first aid, assist with medications, and serve as trusted, familiar faces — an essential link between public health policy and real-world implementation.

We stayed with and worked alongside one of these volunteers, and the dedication and care she showed for her community were palpable. That kind of personal connection is something I deeply value and hope to carry into my own practice.

I learned so much from this field school, and I’m excited to continue learning, comparing health systems, and broadening my perspective. I hope to engage in both public health policy and the kind of on-the-ground connection I witnessed in Thailand — an approach that aligns closely with community health-focused family medicine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. I am deeply grateful to the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health for a scholarship to cover some of my expenses for this program.

Published: June 2025

One Health is the idea that the health of animals, humans, plants, and the environment that we share is inextricably connected.  I have been partnering with Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) Green since 2011 on the human side, helping them to develop Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO®) and Basic Life Support in Obstetrics (BLSO℠) programs for their physicians and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). EMRI Green is the world’s largest emergency medical system with thousands of ambulances and several 911-style call centers to triage emergencies to serve more than 1.1 billion people. To date, their EMTs have assisted over 700,000 births prior to arrival at the hospital! Their services are free to clients, paid for by Indian State governments.

A few years ago, EMRI Green leaders asked me to establish a relationship with veterinarians at the UW. EMRI Green was starting mobile veterinary clinics to serve a vast number of animals in India, primarily livestock on small-scale farms. We are one of the few schools in the U.S. with both medical and veterinary medical schools.

I was able to work with UW veterinarians to create TEACH (Training in Animal Care and Handling) and then travel with them to Hyderabad where the course was piloted. TEACH is a three-and-a-half-day train-the-trainer program consisting of didactic, laboratory, and on-farm training. Topics include fluid therapy, blood transfusions, calving and calf management, dystocia, metritis, trauma, zoonotic disease, and physical examination. More bidirectional teaching and learning activities are in the works!

Not only did I learn a lot about veterinary medicine, but this experience also helped me “see” One Health firsthand, including insights into antimicrobial overuse, environmental and social determinants of health that perpetuate poverty and disease.  It also was proof that listening to the requests of global partners is crucial rather than staying comfortably in your own ‘lane’ with your own priorities.

Published: August 2026

As a DFMCH Global Health pathway senior resident, Dr. Elisabetta Tyriver collaborated with Dr. Ann Evensen to meet an increasing need for refugee domestic medical examinations in Madison. They met with various experts and stakeholders including University of Colorado-Denver refugee clinic faculty and staff, residency clinic administrators, and clinic social workers. Given the lack of existing residency education on how to conduct refugee intake visits, Tyriver developed a training module for second- and third-year residents. Participant knowledge and confidence scores increased with this training; she presented these results at the 2024 Family Medicine Midwest Conference. She co-created a note template and order sets to be shared amongst all providers. Her training materials were also used to educate department faculty. She was able to implement these standardized note templates and order sets in many refugee intake and follow-up visits.

Tyriver’s patient panel was enriched by many wonderful refugee families. She plans to continue developing local refugee health care by providing annual training for residents, creating a UW system-wide Epic SmartSet, refining the triage process and clinic logistics, fostering greater collaboration with refugee support agencies, and pursuing grant funding for a patient navigator role. She plans to share what she has learned with other providers to continue advocating for and providing quality care to the refugee population in Madison.

Published: February 2025