For three students, summer 2025 meant stepping outside the classroom and into Panama鈥檚 vibrant culture and global health landscape. Guided by their faculty mentor , the students partnered with local organizations, government agencies and research institutes to address public health challenges ranging from food and water safety to community development.
The opportunities 鈥� known as (APEs) and integrated learning experiences (ILEs) 鈥� are an integral part of the college鈥檚 curriculum, giving students hands-on exposure to public health practice. But for students Dr. Lori Sevald, Jonathan Adreadakis and Zena Rodill, the trip was more than an academic requirement. It was a chance to contribute, learn and build lasting connections.
Immersion through community development
Sevald, an and an obstetrician-gynecologist, partnered with Fundacion Calicanto, a nonprofit organization in Panama City that works to strengthen communities through education and empowerment initiatives. For two weeks, she immersed herself in Calicanto鈥檚 programs, spending time with staff, engaging with residents and gaining perspective on the community鈥檚 needs.
鈥淏y interacting with staff, participating in programming and engaging with the community, the data I had spent months sorting and analyzing came to life,鈥� Sevald said. 鈥淢ore importantly, I believe my presence created opportunities to have an ongoing impact, one that will last months, if not years, into the future.鈥�
Drs. Arlene Calvo and Lori Sevald (middle and far right) at the Calicanto Foundation. (Photo courtesty of Calvo)
Sevald said her time in Panama also opened her eyes to the country鈥檚 deep ties to global health. From the role of mosquitoes in the spread of yellow fever during the construction of the Panama Canal to Panama鈥檚 current status as a hub for tropical disease research, she came to view the country as both historically and scientifically significant.
鈥淎nd though I traveled alone, my experience will be remembered for the connections I made,鈥� Sevald added. 鈥淔rom Calicanto, to Dr. Calvo鈥檚 warm and inviting presence and the classmates I met there on their own journeys, each has had, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on my life鈥檚 work.鈥�
Ensuring safe food and water
For student Adreadakis, the focus was on food and environmental health. He spent two months at the Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies in the Laboratory of Food and Water Quality, a facility known for its rigorous scientific research and contributions to public health in Panama and beyond.
His projects included developing research protocols to study heavy metals in tuna, nutrient concentrations in sausages and water quality in rural areas. He also delivered several presentations synthesizing the skills and knowledge he gained throughout his MPH program. Topics ranged from research protocol design and literature review strategies to advanced statistical analyses.
鈥淧resenting these concepts to colleagues and peers allowed me to not only reinforce my own understanding but also contribute to the professional development of the Gorgas team,鈥� Adreadakis said.
Jonathan Adreadakis speaking at the Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies. (Photo courtesy of Calvo)
He described the highlight of his trip as meeting the kind, curious and dedicated professionals responsible for ensuring safe food and water throughout Panama. Their mentorship and collaboration, he said, shaped his approach to research and practice.
鈥淭his internship has strengthened my ability to bridge data, research and public health impact, preparing me for the next chapter of my career in medicine and global health,鈥� Adreadakis said. 鈥淚 am grateful to the Gorgas team for their guidance and collaborative spirit. I鈥檓 excited to carry these lessons forward as I continue to pursue research and clinical opportunities that address health challenges on both local and global scales.鈥�
Addressing health through transportation
Rodill, a doctoral student in behavioral and community sciences, traveled to Panama City to take the first steps toward finalizing her dissertation. Her research focuses on transportation issues in rural Panama 鈥� an area with profound implications for health, access and quality of life.
As the project鈥檚 principal investigator, she created bilingual interview protocols and consent forms that were submitted to the Institutional Review Board. While in Panama, she conducted interviews with commuters in the Panama Oeste province and health experts, and she participated in a formal meeting with interdisciplinary professionals from the Ministerio de la Mujer.
鈥淭hese conversations gave me insight into how limited access to public transportation affects an individual鈥檚 ability to reach health care centers, employment opportunities and even their family dynamics,鈥� Rodill said.
Zena Rodill meeting with members of the Ministerio de la Mujer. (Photo courtesy of Rodill)
Fluent in Spanish and with a Latin American background, Rodill said she was able to connect quickly with participants. One of her most memorable experiences came from joining Calvo鈥檚 science social group, where she met scientists who shared their stories of overcoming barriers to research and funding.
鈥淢y international research experience helped me realize how much progress happens through community-based action rather than endless bureaucracy,鈥� Rodill said. 鈥淚n Panama, it was clear in the role of public transportation systems like the Panama Metro.鈥�
Dr. Arlene Calvo with Zena Rodill, Dr. Lori Sevald and other members of Calvo's science social club in Panama. (Photo courtesy of Calvo)
Rodill said the experience not only strengthened her confidence in planning her dissertation but also gave her a less U.S.-centric perspective on health issues.
鈥淚 would 100% recommend studying abroad or conducting research internationally if you have the opportunity,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he experience was invaluable to my personal and academic growth.鈥�
Building bridges across borders
While their projects varied, Sevald, Adreadakis and Rodill all came away with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that shape public health in Panama. Each emphasized the importance of collaboration with local organizations and professionals, whose knowledge and commitment grounded the work in community needs.
Dr. Arlene Calvo with students Dr. Lori Sevald, Jonathan Adreadakis and Zena Rodill in Panama. (Photo courtesy of Calvo)
For Sevald, the word that best captured the experience was gratitude. For Adreadakis, it was connection. For Rodill, it was perspective.
鈥淏eing able to see, learn and contribute firsthand in Panama gave our students a unique opportunity to connect what they鈥檝e studied to real-world public health practice,鈥� Calvo said. 鈥淭hese are the kinds of experiences that stay with them and shape their careers.鈥�