It helps put the whole idea about medicine into perspective as to why you re going to be a doctor. It takes you away from the romanticized notion of medicine you see on ER and helps make it more down to earth. There s such a diverse student community at OU-COM that it s important to be culturally aware and sensitive to each other s culture. But we also see the importance of being more culturally competent in order to take care of patients, says Perez. You can t really understand someone s culture unless you see them in their culture, get immersed in it and see how they live.
International experiences help develop that.
In addition to participating in international rotations, the club serves as a resource for existing program preparation and relief work. During the conflict in Kosovo, about 30 students banded together with faculty and staff and measured, sealed and packaged approximately 1,500 oral rehydration salt packets to be sent to a relief agency working with Kosovar refugees. Being so immersed in medical school, students don t always see tangible rewards, says Perez. Working on projects like the refugee support makes us feel good . . . It builds skills and a humanitarian spirit.