Local2Global Initiative
Local2Global Health Initiatives
Our School of Health and Natural Sciences interdisciplinary "Local to Global Health Initiative," engages students and faculty in partnership with community stakeholders to improve health and participation in life activities of at-risk and/or underserved populations. Through education and partnership with community agencies, innovative service projects can impact local & global communities.
Local2Global Mission
To educate compassionate and innovative leaders through interdisciplinary teamwork and service learning while improving overall community health and environments of at-risk and/or underserved populations both locally and globally.
Goals of the Program
- To extend access and quality health services to diverse, low income or underserved populations
- To enhance cultural sensitivity, awareness and professional skills of students by creating a culture of "caring" and empathy for others through real-world, "hands-on" experiences
- To engage students in team problem solving and development of creative solutions to meet the challenges in providing quality health services to individuals, populations or communities with limited or no resources
- To expand student awareness and understanding of international & national healthcare issues through cross-cultural healthcare experiences in both local and global communities
- To strengthen students ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and partner with local and global communities.
- To promote interdisciplinary, international initiatives to enhance exchange of ideas and understanding of the education of health professionals on a global basis
Mobile Health Van
Continuing Mercy University’s commitment to the Bronx, the University has partnered with the Head Start Sponsoring Board Council of the City of New York, Inc. (HSSBC) to provide health screenings and education through the University’s Mobile Health Vehicle. Twice a month Mercy University students, faculty and staff take the University’s Mobile Health Vehicle to the Bathgate section of the Bronx to provide health screenings and education to members of the Sharon Baptist Head Start Program and surrounding Bronx community.
Medical Mission to Dominican Republic
In spring 2019, an interprofessional team of students and faculty from the Communication Disorders Program, Physician Assistant Program, and Physical Therapy Program spent their spring break in the Dominican Republic. Unlike other college students, spending their break on the beach, Mercy students worked to continue our partnership with Inca Cola and Friends of Lead Free Children Foundation.
The Mercy team saw over 500 patients at various locations: a YMCA on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, a medical clinic that is usually closed but opened for the mission work, sugar cane fields region where people are extremely poor, and a school for the deaf.
The team returned to the island in spring 2023 for the 1st time since 2019. Read more about their work.
Communication Disorders goes to Boliva
Faculty and students from the Communication Disorders Program continued their global travels with Healing the Children Northeast with a medical mission to Sucre, Bolivia.
This organization brings together surgeons, anesthesiologists, a pediatrician, a cardiologist, and nurses from different states to treat children with cleft lips and cleft palates. Dr. Shari Berkowitz, faculty member, and Roseanne Grateraux, 2nd-year graduate student from our Communication Disorders program joined a medical mission to Bolivia this September. They provided pre- and post-surgery speech pathology services to the children with cleft lips and palate who also presented with speech, language, and feeding/swallowing problems. In all, approximately thirty children had surgery to repair their cleft lip or cleft palate.
Future 2024 Global Missions
The global initiatives conducted by Mercy University’s School of Health & Natural Sciences are only possible through assistance provided by our network of supporters. Your donation to our missions will make a difference that will be felt globally and remembered for generations.
Mission to Antigua
We hope to return to our annual mission to Antigua in 2024. For several years, students and faculty of the Communication Disorders, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy programs traveled to Antigua to provide health and medical services, as well as providing public outreach.
Belize Trip
Students and faculty of the Veterinary Technology program plan to return to Belize in January 2024. We plan to continue our partnership with the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic who will be providing in-country logistical support. We will be providing veterinary services to wildlife and canines, as well as providing public outreach.
Medical Mission to the Dominican Republic
Students and faculty of the Physician Assistant, Communication Disorders and Physical Therapy programs are beginning to plan to return to the Dominican Republic in Spring 2024. We hope to continue our work providing primary health care services as well as health education.