Service Learning Trips are offered through the GSB’s Public Management Program. They provide students with the opportunity to travel with classmates and faculty to explore a global issue in depth and discover innovative models for social and environmental impact.

Many healthcare-related service learning trips have been conducted over the years. In December 2010, for example, 22 students traveled to India to explore innovations in healthcare delivery. Over the course of 10 days, they visited Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, as well as the rural village of Jamkhed.

During their travels, students examined the contributions and debated the responsibilities of the government, non-profits, and private companies in delivering healthcare to the nation. They also investigated how poverty has spurred innovation in healthcare—but how a lack of resources has hampered the widespread implementation of many creative solutions.

Highlights from the trip included:

• Meetings with the National Health Ministry, Piramal Pharma, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
• A visit with portfolio companies of Acumen Fund India to learn about entrepreneurial approaches to solving global poverty
• Interaction with Public Health Foundation of India, a public private partnership that offers patients both preventive and therapeutic services
• A chance to learn from nonprofit organizations that have pioneered effective community-based approaches to health and development
• Exploration of the cultural, social, and economic landscape of India’s cities and countryside

To learn more about past healthcare-related service learning trips or connect with some of the organizations who have hosted student trips, contact the Service Learning Initiative.