JOHNSON CITY – Several East Tennessee State University students are headed to Ecuador
this summer.
Students Cristiana Martinez, Crimsyn Price, Lauren Ross and Jessica Upham will spend
a week in Guangaje, Ecuador, with ETSU Quillen College of Medicine staff and medical students. ETSU is partnering with TIMMY Global Health, a nonprofit
that provides global health equality and delivers financial, medical and human resources
to community-based health and development projects around the world.
The summer trip will be led by Dr. David Wood, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics.
The Medical Brigade program coincides with the ETSU Global Year Program, an endeavor aimed at moving the university toward greater international influence.
When planning for the project started, officials said they would select a South American
country to focus on each year. Officials picked Ecuador for 2022-23.
All of the students are members of the ETSU Honors College and work with Dr. Christopher Keller, dean of the college and senior international
officer at the university
“The Honors College at ETSU maintains a firm commitment to community-engaged learning,
both locally and globally,” said Keller. “Honors student participation in this Medical
Brigade program with Dr. Wood and the Quillen College presents these four honors students
with a fantastic experiential learning opportunity and a chance to learn from medical
professionals and community members in Guangaje, Ecuador, while simultaneously making
a positive impact in an under-resourced area of the world.”