At a glance
Dates:
June 2–July 14, 2012
Application deadline:
February 3, or until filled
Cost:
$7,000
Accommodations:
Dorms
See also
Contact
- Thomas Burke, e-mail
Harvard Summer Program in Kisumu, Kenya
Harvard Summer Program in
Kisumu, Kenya
Innovations, technologies, and health transformation in Africa
Faculty: Roy Ahn, Thomas F. Burke, Christopher Kabrhel, Anita M. McGahan, and Richard O. MugaStudents in the Harvard Summer Program in Kisumu, Kenya, explore diverse approaches for using innovations and technologies to foster transformative and sustainable healthcare improvements in Africa.
African governments are searching for ways to harness the power of science, technology, and innovation to foster transformation in healthcare delivery. Their strategies are being significantly influenced by the forces of globalization. International development agencies are similarly rethinking their approaches in light of the opportunities provided by rapid advances in science and technology.
Understanding the greatest challenges and opportunities for change will lay the foundation upon which the students will explore diverse approaches for integrating and adopting innovations and new technologies into a healthcare delivery system. The 6-week intensive program, held on the campus of Great Lakes University in Kisumu, in Western Kenya, will use an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizes the importance of teamwork in the design and implementation of innovations and technologies. It will demonstrate to the students that all technologies, as beneficial as they may be, must be integrated locally to be successful.
Course of study
AAAS S-181s Study Abroad in Kisumu, Kenya: Innovations, Technologies, and Health Transformations in Africa (32791)
Thomas F. Burke, Roy Ahn, Christopher Kabrhel, Anita M. McGahan, and Richard O. Muga.
(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
The aim of the summer program is to equip students with an in-depth understanding of approaches to tackling intractable healthcare challenges through innovations and technologies. The course is divided into 4 broad sections:
- An introduction to the language, history, and culture of Kenya and the east-African community (1 week).
- An in-depth exploration of what it means to take a chosen identified healthcare problem and to innovate in order to develop and deploy a sustainable and scalable solution. We initially will develop an understanding of the greatest healthcare challenges confronting the African continent followed by case based approaches to problem characterization, solution development, and refinement, and ultimately testing delivery models for healthcare improvement. In these cases we will review policy and economic implications (2 weeks).
- Students will be grouped into teams of 4 and closely mentored to spend 3 weeks in the field working through the strategic components of a chosen healthcare innovation and/or technology. Emphasis will be on thoroughly understanding a chosen healthcare problem, how a viable hypothesis and strategy for solution is generated, and then how a plan for implementation and testing is rigorously deployed and integrated (3 weeks).
- The last 2 weeks of the summer program will include 1 week of preparing a final paper and a group presentation, which will be presented in the final week (2 weeks).
In addition to developing analytical skills, students are expected to strengthen their capacity to work in teams by integrating knowledge from a diversity of sources. Training in the natural or engineering sciences is not a requirement for the course. Students are expected to leverage their previous experiences and explore new avenues related to their career aspirations.
The course will be conducted through guided discussions, lectures, guest speakers, field work, assigned readings, and presentations by students. Modest adjustments in the syllabus will be introduced to accommodate specialized interests by students and to take advantage of topical issues as they arise.
Prerequisites: None. The program is designed to accommodate students from all fields interested in the role of innovations and technologies to transform healthcare delivery in Africa.
Course credit
See Study Abroad Credit Information.
Faculty
Roy Ahn, ScD, Instructor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Thomas F. Burke, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Christopher Kabrhel, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Anita M. McGahan, PhD, Associate Dean, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Richard O. Muga, MD, Associate of Professor of Child Health, Great Lakes University of Kisumu
Application
Apply now >Students must be at least 18 years old, have completed at least 1 year of college or be a first-year student, and be in good academic standing to apply.
The application materials, outlined below, are due February 3:
- A completed online application that includes:
- A $50 nonrefundable application fee
- A statement of interest in the program, including information on relevant coursework and travel experience abroad (previous travel is not a prerequisite)
- Transcripts (student record accepted for Harvard students)
Program directors may ask for interviews.
Students are notified of admission decisions by mid-February.
Cost
There is a nonrefundable $50 application fee. The cost of the program is $7,000 and includes the following:
- Tuition
- Room and some meals
- Excursions (including meals when appropriate)
In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for:
- A health insurance fee ($195; waived if students have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States)
- Transportation to and from Kenya
- The cost of passports and visas (if the latter is needed)
- Any immunizations
Suggested budget
See a sample budget for estimated expenses.
How to pay and funding options
See Funding and Payment for payment deadlines, deposit amounts, and more information, including funding options for Harvard College students.
Accommodations
Dormitory accommodations at the Great Lakes University of Kisumu.
Additional information
Students with disabilities should contact the disability services coordinator as soon as possible. See Students with Disabilities for more information.
