Global Perspectives in Service-Learning (HESP-GPS) is the department’s premier educational abroad program that will provide students with a supervised and multidisciplinary, international service learning (ISL) opportunity for the reciprocal exchange of cultural perspectives, knowledge, and skills. Through interactions with International health and educational professionals as well as patients/clients and their families, students will gain perspective on broader health issues such as determinants of health, health disparities, and the global burden of disease. Students will have learning opportunities in governmental and non-governmental organizations to gain knowledge and experience with varied healthcare and educational systems in under-resourced communities. In addition to observing and working with the host country's audiologists, speech-language therapists and other rehabilitative professionals, students will assist faculty in providing educational workshops for professionals and outreach activities for the community. Graduate students will be able to earn clock hours and get hands-on clinical experiences, while undergraduate students will be able to get observational hours and participate in all aspects of the trip. In addition, there will be time for cultural activities that will explore the country, allow for learning about the history, and provide a different narrative than the ones provided in the media. By the end of the program, students will be able to demonstrate competence in clinical service learning using a culturally responsible, effective, and sustainable framework.
How do I apply for HESP-GPS?
HESP-GPS is a limited capacity program. Applications will be available to students during the semester preceding the education abroad opportunity. Applications consist of an online form, a statement of interest in the program, and a current resume.
Program Objectives:
- To provide students with an international, inter-professional service-learning opportunity that exposes them to educational and healthcare systems in low resource communities to enhance their cultural sensitivity and understanding of global health issues
- To strengthen established partnerships and build new relationships between the University of Maryland and host country’s audiologists, speech-language therapists, rehabilitation professionals, teachers, and students.
The program has four core areas of focus: Coursework, Clinical Training, Service Learning, and professional participation. In addition, cohorts will meet 5-6 times prior to traveling to learn about the country, prepare and engage in dialogue surrounding a wide range of topics.
Course Overview and Goals:
HESP graduate and undergraduate students in speech-language pathology and audiology have had the opportunity to travel to Ghana for the past two years. Plans are already underway for the third trip to Ghana in August 2025. Formal information sessions will be held prior to application deadlines in the Spring of 2025.
Using Accra, Ghana as a case study, this course was designed to improve students' effectiveness as clinicians working with diverse clients. The course will explore how differences among individuals and cultures in terms of gender, age, race, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, religion, language, dialect, or country of origin, can affect interpersonal and group communication, as well as clinical practice.
A formal Information session will be held on October 8th, 2024, and applications will open in the spring of 2025. For questions, please email the program director, Eliza Thompson Ed.S, CCC-SLP
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From Ghana to Home: Integrating Cultural Understanding into Speech Therapy
My time in Ghana has profoundly shaped my understanding of cultural competency. As I continue through my HESP undergrad, I want to hold onto this knowledge and build upon it with every new experience that comes hereafter. Cultural competency is not just a skill but a fundamental aspect of providing quality care to all individuals, regardless of background or circumstance. Through ongoing learning, reflection, and engagement, I aim to create inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued and heard.
By: Denilson Mejia-Rivera
HESP-GPS: Opportunity Abounds with HESP-GPS Ghana 2024
I had never traveled out of the country before and always was scared and didn’t know where exactly to go. It was mainly the feeling of not knowing where I was and how people would react to someone not being from the country I was visiting. I wanted to overcome my fear because I believed knowing how and what’s going on in places other than the United States is educational.
By: Breanna Pope
HESP-GPS: Culture through the lens of a foreigner wanting to call Ghana home
I have had a worthwhile experience while staying in Ghana because I’ve finally experienced the culture I’ve only seen through the screen or by word of mouth. I’ve seen and heard so many beautiful stories that are worth being told because the outlook of Ghana’s people shines so bright it overlooks any negatives that are plagued throughout the media
By: Makayla Anfuson
Global Humility and Reciprocity Among Audiology and Speech Pathology Professionals
I’ve spoken with a lot of professionals in the hearing and speech sciences field, and unfortunately will most likely to continue being an issue as long as this field in understaffed and under resourced. However, by hearing from professionals in the field about the things they are passionate and finding new goals to focus on, we will be able to better handle these feelings or frustration and exhaustion from the duties of this job.
By: Lindsey Hoffman
Transformative Journey: How Ghana Rewrote My Narrative
To truly understand the genuineness of the Ghanaian people, you have to experience it firsthand. Whether in clinical settings, or simple public outings, we are welcomed and we are taken care of. This is something that I never could have picked up from an article, book, or story.
By: Jaime Nester
HESP-GPS: Cultural Competence, Socialization, and Change
As a Black American from the African Diaspora, I felt a distant connection to my ancestral roots and wondered what the realities of African cultures and history were compared to the muddled truths and myths that have been perpetuated in the United States. To visit the Motherland seemed like an opportunity that would never present itself, and yet, here I am, studying abroad and pursuing cultural competence.
By: Platrina Alexander
HESP-GPS: Navigating Linguistic Landscapes in Ghana and Beyond
Ghana, with its rich tapestry of languages, presents a vivid example of linguistic diversity that mirrors the challenges and opportunities of its history.
By: Joi Kenner
For additional information, contact the Director of the program:
Eliza Akua Thompson, Program Director ethomps2 [at] umd.edu
Please see this highlight reel to see what our students experienced in Ghana.
