Almost year and a half ago already, I was admitted to the Engineering Honors Program, with little idea what my focus area would be … and absolutely no idea what my capstone experience might look like. After putting some thought into it and hearing about other Honors students’ capstone projects, I liked the idea of getting into biomedical research and possibly writing a thesis for my capstone. However, a variety of experiences made me realize that that wasn’t the right fit for me, nor did I ever get overly excited about the idea. So if my focus area wasn’t to be research, what would it be? Design? Entrepreneurship? Public service?
I owe my conceptualization of this needs assessment project to my experiences in M-HEAL, working with the project teams and other programs, along with some coursework. Two summers ago, I was introduced to the Dominican Republic, and welcomed by my loving host families. During my eight weeks there, I had a few opportunities to visit some public hospitals and private clinics … my first exposure to the health system in the DR. My ideas for an eventual engineering design project were further fueled by discussions with Dr. Christine Tisone, who led my study abroad program, the Institute for the Design of Humanitarian Technology (as it was known at the time, in its developing stages), particularly with Dr. Kathleen Sienko, now my capstone supervisor, as well as with our M-HEAL advisor, Dr. Aileen Huang-Saad.
In time, I shaped my focus area into Global Health, and took a very relevant course, taught by Dr. Sofia Merajver, on Implementation Solutions for Global Health Equity. I’ve worked to prepare for this project by equipping myself with design ethnography skills, through seminars with the Humanitarian Technology Institute and field work experience during our M-HEAL SANA (Service Abroad & Needs Assessment) Program in Antigua, Guatemala. I hope to translate and further develop those skills I’ve gained from that experience into this summer’s needs finding, as well as enhance my Spanish language proficiency.
I’m full of mixed emotions as I embark on my journey to la República Dominicana. Excited to see my host families, saddened to leave mine behind, eager for the project ahead, anxious for the unknown, but inevitable, challenges ahead, proud to represent Michigan and the Engineering Honors Program, and humbled to have this incredible opportunity in front of me, thanks to the support of Phi Kappa Phi, Wallenberg, and, of course, my family. Without them, I wouldn’t have a reason to be writing this blog, nor those yet to come. Hasta la próxima.
I owe my conceptualization of this needs assessment project to my experiences in M-HEAL, working with the project teams and other programs, along with some coursework. Two summers ago, I was introduced to the Dominican Republic, and welcomed by my loving host families. During my eight weeks there, I had a few opportunities to visit some public hospitals and private clinics … my first exposure to the health system in the DR. My ideas for an eventual engineering design project were further fueled by discussions with Dr. Christine Tisone, who led my study abroad program, the Institute for the Design of Humanitarian Technology (as it was known at the time, in its developing stages), particularly with Dr. Kathleen Sienko, now my capstone supervisor, as well as with our M-HEAL advisor, Dr. Aileen Huang-Saad.
In time, I shaped my focus area into Global Health, and took a very relevant course, taught by Dr. Sofia Merajver, on Implementation Solutions for Global Health Equity. I’ve worked to prepare for this project by equipping myself with design ethnography skills, through seminars with the Humanitarian Technology Institute and field work experience during our M-HEAL SANA (Service Abroad & Needs Assessment) Program in Antigua, Guatemala. I hope to translate and further develop those skills I’ve gained from that experience into this summer’s needs finding, as well as enhance my Spanish language proficiency.
I’m full of mixed emotions as I embark on my journey to la República Dominicana. Excited to see my host families, saddened to leave mine behind, eager for the project ahead, anxious for the unknown, but inevitable, challenges ahead, proud to represent Michigan and the Engineering Honors Program, and humbled to have this incredible opportunity in front of me, thanks to the support of Phi Kappa Phi, Wallenberg, and, of course, my family. Without them, I wouldn’t have a reason to be writing this blog, nor those yet to come. Hasta la próxima.