Led by José-Ignacio Pareja, Ph.D. (director of the Science and Technology Commons) and Lori Watson, Ph.D. (professor of Chemistry), the group of nine students was comprised of aspiring dentists, pediatricians, physical and occupational therapists and alternative medicine practitioners.

The team took a step toward those goals by learning how to take vital signs and glucose readings, working in a pharmacy, and designing health education programming for children. The students were also supported by doctors and psychologists from the Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children and received additional mentorship from Kevin Schmidt Tanager, M.D., a member of Earlham’s Class of 2012 who is currently conducting his residency in pathology at the University of Chicago. Tanager was a Chemistry and Biology double-major at Earlham.

Led by Peter Blair, Ph.D. (associate professor of biology and co-director of the Center for Global Health) and José-Ignacio Pareja, Ph.D. (director of the Science and Technology Commons and a native of Peru), the group of 10 students provided diabetes and blood pressure tests, health checks, fluoride treatments and doctor referrals. The program also allowed students to improve their Spanish, learn a little about the culture of Peru, and reflect on the cultural and ethical issues raised by international public health campaigns.