Global Health Starts Here: Why Pre-Health Students Choose To Study Abroad in Thailand
One Health Matters Right Now
Undergraduate pre-health students benefit from global, interdisciplinary experiences to understand the modern, and ever-evolving healthcare landscape. But, they are often under the pressure of completing pre-requisite coursework. Many want to study abroad but don’t think they can. Enter the Pre-Health Student Resource Center course AHS 3002: Global Health in Thailand, a 3-credit course available to students of all years and majors.
Global health outbreaks of zoonotic diseases, diseases that are spread from animals to humans, are on the rise due to a number of factors, including humans’ encroachment into wildlife habitat and the ever-increasing rate of global travel. One Health is an approach used to address emergent global health issues by examining the complex interplay between humans, animals, and the environment. One Health offers a unifying approach to optimize health for everyone and everything which is why it is beneficial for future health professionals to have an understanding of its importance so that they can meet the future of health with necessarily creative, adaptive solutions. In this course, students begin to explore global health through the lens of One Health and zoonotic disease in Northern Thailand. Through daily classwork, field experiences, and self-reflection, students who participate in this course reflect on the unique impact they want to have in global health and learn about the interdisciplinary nature of health, culture, humans, animals, and the environment we all share - globally and locally.
Thailand, the Perfect “Classroom” to Learn about One Health
Chiang Mai Thailand is well-suited for studying One Health and Global Health because of its position within the intersection of human health, animal health, environmental change, and cross-cultural healthcare provision and practice. Situated in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a burgeoning urban city teeming with ancient temples, vestiges of walls and moats, vibrant night markets, nearby mountains, and delicious North Thai cuisine. Nearby rural areas offer opportunities to learn about biodiversity and agriculture, which we also leverage to learn about rural, traditional medicine in comparison to modern medical practices.
The course focuses on how elephants (who doesn’t love elephants?) are an integral part of Thai culture, holding deep spiritual and symbolic meaning. The majestic creature is revered for its strength, size, and historical importance in Thai society. Elephants are susceptible to tuberculosis (TB) and because they live in close proximity to humans, can contract and spread TB from and to humans. We use this zoonotic relationship as a case study to explore global health and the ethical, complex underpinnings involved when responding to and identifying solutions to solving emergent health issues involving humans, animals, and the environment. More information below on the excursions, experts, and topics we will explore.
Student perspectives
If you’re wondering if Thailand is right for you, don’t just take it from us! Here is what one student had to say about the program:
“The Global Health in Thailand study abroad course offered by the center really solidified what I wanted to do in public health and was an enriching experience that broadened my perspective on health systems.”
Another student described his conversation about health with a farmer in rural Thailand: "The farmer said health to him means “Health is well being. Eat well, have energy”. It sounded like his community was generally a healthy group of people. He said people usually lived until 90 years old and rarely had cancer. In my journal, I wrote, “It seems they think less of the human body as something to treat or fix but rather something to nourish and heal.” Reading this struck a chord with me because just over the past couple weeks I have been looking into the philosophy of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. They are able to do all the things MDs can do but take a unique, more holistic, and hands on approach to patient care. They look at the whole person to reach a diagnosis rather than just focusing on the symptoms presented, taking into consideration social determinants of health as well as mental and emotional health."
So, What Are The Details?
AHS 3002 is an embedded spring semester course, with the abroad portion in Thailand taking place over winter break and on-campus classes taking place in the first half of the spring semester. The course fulfills the Global Perspectives Liberal Education requirement. During the time in Thailand, each day will include combinations of field activities, classroom activities, and presentations by local experts. We also wrap up and begin each day with a group debrief and reflection of the activities from the previous day.
While in Thailand, you will visit a variety of elephant conservation and rehabilitation sites, a rural Karen village, human healthcare facilities, and Buddhist temples. You will have frequent journal reflection assignments related to field trips or activities all while learning about One Health and global health in the context of the Thai culture we are exploring. The study abroad program ends with a hike up Doi Inthanon to the highest point in Thailand, which offers an excellent environment for final reflections on this memorable travel experience.
During the seven class weeks at the University of Minnesota after our international travel, you will work in teams to focus on a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and develop a culminating final project comparing an SDG from the perspective of what you learned in Thailand and Minnesota. Each team will present their final project at the end of the seven weeks of class. We also work with students to help create meaning of the experience for their resume and/or health profession application.
For students interested in studying abroad but are worried about affordability, the Learning Abroad Center (LAC) offers several scholarships to students who meet certain criteria.
TL:DR
AHS 3002 is a 3 credit course
Learn about Global Health, Public Health, and One Health
Meets the Liberal Education Global Perspectives requirement
The deadline to apply is October 1, 2026
You don’t need to learn the Thai language
Travel with other pre-health students
Learn more on our website and apply via the Learning Abroad Center.
Meet The Course Instructors
The original curriculum creators have combined professional backgrounds in public health and veterinary medicine, in addition to career counseling and course instruction to multitudes of pre-health students. The instructors for the course are Whitney Oachs, MPP and Dana Hegre Lovold, MPH.
Dana has a background in public health and has traveled to Thailand to teach this course several times previously. She brings with her an understanding of the US health system and familiarity with Thai culture, as well as 13 years of experience leading undergraduate students to various countries to explore global health. Dana believes that global health and cultural exploration are important aspects of preparing for a health profession, and she enjoys facilitating students' reflection on their experiences and supporting students in making connections to their learning, development, and future careers. She enjoys this course because it offers the opportunity to go abroad with students who are curious about the world, passionate about health, and open to new experiences.
Whitney has a background in public policy and communications and is excited to join this course as an instructor. Whitney is passionate about global learning and cross-cultural exchange, and their values emphasize cultural immersion, critical thinking, and respectful engagement with local communities. They are committed to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment, helping students navigate new experiences while fostering personal growth and global awareness.
If you need any assistance with the application or essay, please email [email protected] or Dana at [email protected].
We hope you join us!
Written by Dana Hegre Lovold