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Medical Immersion Program in Dominican Republic

The Medical Center Campus of Miami Dade College is offering the option of an immersion project in the Dominican Republic to complement the Community Health Nursing Lab (NUR 2680L), as an international and a service learning experience for Miami Dade College students.  The program is designed for students enrolled in NUR 2680L which require community service hours, formal seminars (classes), and reflection hours.

Course Requirements for NUR 2680L, which is offered over a 16-week period, consists of the following three components:

1. Community Service Hours (23 hours over 5 days of direct patient services).

2. Formal Seminars (7 hours of mandatory sessions/classes).

3. Reflection Hours (10 hours of reflection, facilitated by the faculty members throughout the immersion experiences). 

This cultural competence and immersion experience will be offered March 7-March 14, 2009 in the sugar cane plantation labor camp (batey) La Higuera, in the province of El Seibo in the Dominican Republic. The batey is mainly comprised of Haitian and Dominican migrant workers, and their families.  These workers lack access to basic healthcare, sanitation, and potable drinking water, and are experiencing cramped living conditions.  The students will visit the batey for six hours each day to provide health screenings for men, women, and children.  This will typically consist of checking the pulse, monitoring blood pressure, performing blood sugar and cholesterol screenings, and conducting overall health history assessments and health education.  Culturally-sensitive health education will be provided for childhood immunizations, dental care, vision care, environmental sanitation, family planning, prenatal care, and other health issues.  Each student will keep a personal journal and detailed activity log to serve as a record of the experience for the duration of the course.

The project will be led by Professor Marie Etienne, School of Nursing Faculty Service-Learning Coordinator and Coordinator for the Community Health Nursing Courses.  Exposing students to healthcare practices and service learning in international settings will help enhance the cultural competence, civic engagement, and global education experiences of students. Students will return from the program with an increased awareness of international healthcare disparities and factors that influence health, a deeper understanding of the health needs of the Caribbean community, and a stronger foundation in providing culturally competent care and improvement in health assessment skills, basic nursing skills, and health education strategies.

For more information about the program, please contact:

Ø Call the Office of International Education at (305) 237-3008 or email:

Ø Eva Fernandez at efernan1@mdc.edu