Name

Felicia Zhornitsky

Major/Minor/Field of Study/Occupation

UC Davis School of Medicine

Class Standing

2nd year

Graduation Year

2027

Virtual or In-Person

In-Person

Program Title, Location

Widening Circles: Global Social Impact Program, Peru (Global Grad Grant Recipient)

What motivated or led you to participate in your global learning program?

I strongly believe that providing quality medical care lies at the confluence of understanding both an individual and their community. I'm fascinated with learning how to bridge the gap between formal healthcare systems and underserved populations in a sustainable way, such as through the community health worker model: empowering local individuals to provide basic health services, education and support to their own communities. Participating in the UC Davis Widening Circles program seemed like an amazing opportunity to critically examine topics surrounding ethical global engagement and social change while I worked abroad with a nonprofit focused on training community health workers in Peru.

What was your experience like in this program? What did you learn from your experience: interacting with other people and cultures; academics; addressing global challenges; and/or developing global skills and leadership?

I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in the work of Sacred Valley Health, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health outcomes by empowering community health workers. Their mission to provide culturally relevant healthcare education to Quechua-speaking indigenous communities opened my eyes to the importance of tailoring medical practices to local needs and traditions.

Through the UC Davis Widening Circles program, I engaged in an online curriculum that provided a platform for meaningful discussions with fellow participants and encouraged deep self-reflection.. It allowed me to delve into the intricate challenges of pursuing health equity in a context where cultural backgrounds and power dynamics vary significantly.

What was the most challenging part of your program and the most rewarding?

The most challenging aspect of the UC Davis Widening Circles program was the realization that working with a marginalized community as an outsider to that population (whether internationally or locally) creates power dynamics, many of which cannot be resolved. We had discussions about different global health initiatives that failed to address these power dynamics either partially or fully and as a result did not create sustainable healthy outcomes for the community they aimed to serve.

The most rewarding part of the program was the final symposium session, where each person shared their experiences volunteering over the summer. It was fascinating seeing how everyone tied topics we learned in the online curriculum to their volunteer work, and many people sent in creative pieces such as videos, photo essays and poems.

What’s one of your most memorable experiences from your program?

The most memorable experience I had while volunteering with Sacred Valley Health in Peru was meeting the promotoras, or community health workers. They showed us around the high-altitude communities they call home, treated us to delicious homemade meals and invited us to local festivities. It felt special to see this intimate part of their lives and I am very grateful that they felt comfortable enough to share their culture with us.

What was a typical day like on your program?

The UC Davis Widening Circles program consisted of an online curriculum made up of five units, as well as five 1-hour long video calls over the course of four months. During those calls, we discussed and analyzed the learnings from each unit with peers and mentors, which allowed us to dive deeper into the topics presented and apply them to our own volunteer experiences. For each unit, we submitted a response related to the theme, many of which were free-form blog posts. We also had periodic meetings with a mentor who was assigned to follow us throughout the program and provide a source of support.

What advice do you have for someone considering your program or a global experience, in general? What would you like to share with students who might have similar identities or experiences as you?

I would definitely recommend the UC Davis Widening Circles program to anyone interested in critically examining themes surrounding sustainable global health work and social change. Many of the participants concurrently engaged in summer volunteer/research opportunities abroad, while some folks were engaged in work locally or were using this program as a way to reflect on past/future experiences.

What was your biggest concern in regards to participating in the program? Were you able to overcome that concern, and if so, how? What advice would you give someone who has similar concerns?

I was concerned about the time commitment of this program, as I was worried that I might have the availability and Internet connection to fulfill the requirements while I was volunteering in Peru. However, I found that the program's responsibilities were very reasonable and the spread-out nature of the calls made it easy to plan around my work and study schedule. To anyone who has similar concerns, I would advise them to join the program as I found it to be a very fruitful and educational experience.

How do you think your program experiences will benefit you in the future—thinking academically, future career goals, or personally?

My experience in the UC Davis Widening Circles program has broadened my perspective on global health and reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in medicine that prioritizes community engagement and cultural sensitivity. The lessons I've learned about the importance of collaboration, adaptability and respect for local knowledge will undoubtedly shape my future practice as a physician.