The exploration for global health care solutions often takes collaboration among practitioners who face similar problems in various parts of the world. Through a joint program funded by the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, University of Alabama students and faculty are teaming up with universities more than 9,000 miles away to solve global health care challenges.
UA is collaborating with Rattana Bundit University, Thammasat University and Payap University in Thailand for the Thailand U.S. Shared Challenges, or TUSSC, program that focuses on developing and enhancing global health student exchange experiences between the U.S. and Thailand with the goal of finding solutions to common global health challenges. The program is housed under the College of Arts and Sciences’ Southeast Asia Initiative, led by the grant Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Lisa Pawloski and Dr. Kevin Curtin in Arts and Sciences and in collaboration with Dr. Mercy Mumba from the Capstone College of Nursing.
“From the perspective of the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, the TUSSC Global Health Fellows program aims to enhance diplomacy and the strong relationship between the U.S. and Thailand,” said Dr. Lisa Pawloski, senior associate dean of international programming, finance and administration with the College of Arts and Sciences. “More recently they have been interested in increasing partnerships with universities in the two counties.
“For UA, this program allows fellows to participate in study tours to learn about global health challenges and solutions in both Thailand and Alabama.”
According to Pawloski, who has partnered with Thai scholars in health-related fields for more than 20 years, the program looks to increase faculty and student research and creative activities at partner institutions in both Thailand and Vietnam.
“The combination of the support and resources from the A&S Southeast Asia Initiative, existing long-term partnerships in Thailand and excellent reputation of UA as a flagship and R1: Doctoral Research university greatly impressed the U.S. Embassy in Thailand,” said Pawloski. “They felt that UA would make an excellent host for Thai scholars and students.”
The first student exchange took place in late spring when eight UA students traveled to Thailand. Despite the challenges of traveling during Thailand’s hot season with temperatures reaching 100 degrees or higher each day, Pawloski believes the experience was life changing.
“The students immediately became close friends with their Thai colleagues,” said Pawloski. “They traveled around Thailand and learned first-hand about the kinds of shared health care challenges and even some solutions that might be applied here in Alabama.”
One of the immediate benefits of the trip was a recently published paper by three of the TUSSC fellows, Pawloski and other colleagues that explores food security among older adults in Thailand.
UA welcomed eight students and four faculty from Thailand to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 8. The fellows will learn about health care in Alabama and its challenges as well as tour the state during their 10-day visit.
“I hope that the Thai students gain an understanding that many of the issues they face back home also occur in wealthy countries like the U.S., and that working together can help us create better solutions to issues like our aging population, pollution and water security,” said Pawloski. “I would love for them to learn more about UA and think about applying for graduate programming here, or to continue to collaborate with our students and faculty when they return to Thailand.
“I also expect them to say, ‘Roll Tide’ when they return to Thailand.”