Global Health Overview
As an unopposed program that provides care to a rural, underserved population in Louisiana, we believe that a focus on health equity in the care we provide is critical. Through global and rural health experiences both at home and abroad, our residents enhance their skill sets and education surrounding care of vulnerable populations, social determinants of health, and their impact on health outcomes for those most in need.
“Becoming uncomfortable with the tolerance of global inequity may drive us to take
decisive action to build bridges, form community, and provide social and medical
support.” - Kyle Mistretta, MS3
Global Health Elective Opportunities by Country
Global Health electives, as with domestic electives, are available to any interested
resident with appropriate elective time in their schedule.
Peru : In partnership with Reach. Teach. Heal. Peru as well as the local Peruvian physicians,
participants spend two weeks in the rural Cusco region of Peru providing acute care
to the local and indigenous population in pop up clinics and through home
visits. Through this twice annual trip as well as a well established method for local
referrals, the group of LSU faculty and students provide consistent support in these
long term relationships.
“When thinking about global health initiatives, our intentions, while well formed,
may not be most practical, relevant, or culturally appropriate. RTH is unique. Through
partnerships with local health agencies, we were able to integrate our supplies and
staff into some of the gaps in the local health care services.” - Kyle Mistretta,
MS3
Chile : Participants spend two weeks working with local Family Medicine faculty and residents
based out of Valparaiso, Chile. They rotate through various sites in the city and
in more rural surrounding regions, and they also participate in educational didactics
with the Department of Family Medicine. This journey also features Spanish immersion
not only through professional interactions but also in staying with a host family
from the local program.
Honduras : This rotation continues to evolve and will be updated shortly. A graduate of the Bogalusa Family Medicine Residency Program has been stationed in Honduras full time and looks forward to hosting participants in rural Honduras.
Global Health
Mobile clinic: Our Lady of the Angels partners with LSU’s Rural Family Medicine Residency as well
as various community stakeholders to host the mobile clinic bus in vulnerable areas
of Bogalusa and the surrounding regions. In this way, the resident team is able to
reach patients who have limited access to the clinic.
“While the existing infrastructure of local resources may affect our plan, our approach to love, listen, and act is the same.” - Kyle Mistretta, MS3
Rural health: Situated in the heart of Bogalusa, the residency program provides care to a rural
population with multiple barriers to health care. Our residents learn to navigate
the challenges of providing quality, evidence-based medical attention in balance with
each patient’s goals, understandings, and limitations based on social determinants
of health. This well rounded training allows our young physicians to become excellent
in care of the whole patient in any low resource setting.
“Just as we act to mediate the difficult poverty in rural Peru, so should I be present
to
listen, express compassion, and act against the social problems in our local
communities.” - Kyle Mistretta, MS3
Global Health Track
The Global Health Track is a longitudinal program for residents passionate about care
of vulnerable populations. The track utilizes a mixture of didactic, hands-on, international,
and local formative learning opportunities for residents interested in pursuing global
health throughout their career. The track aims to support the development of Family
Physicians who are equipped with clinical experience and systems understanding in
order to provide quality, comprehensive, and compassionate care to underserved
populations in all settings, both at home and abroad.
By graduation, Global Health Track participants will have completed:
- Related research poster/presentation
- 4-6 weeks international experience
- 2 completed projects on health systems and/or health equity to teach co-residents
- 1 or more Global Health Journal Clubs
- Attend/teach related lectures with undergraduate medical students and co-residents
“The mutual gratitude from our team with these communities help move us from
tolerance, to action and hope.” - Kyle Mistretta, MS3