Recently, Trish Elie, a junior in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health, participated in the HLSC 405 course “Interprofessional Global Health”. She shares her experience and how it helped her toward her career and educational goals.
Hi, my name is Trish, and I’m currently a junior at ϲ majoring in Public Health. I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York.
Recently, I participated in a , where I spent spring break in Donegal, Ireland. I was one of two public health students accompanying about eight nursing majors on the trip. The experience was unforgettable — I even cried saying goodbye to the amazing people who cared for us during our stay.
During the trip, I learned about everyday life in Donegal and gained firsthand insight into their healthcare system. Since hospitals are about an hour away, the community relies heavily on local doctors, home remedies, and emergency AEDs placed on nearly every building. At the local community center, owned by Mary and her husband, we helped provide health checks for blood sugar, vision, hearing, and blood pressure — services the residents don’t receive regularly due to limited resources. Our group was able to offer these checks because we had access to different tools and support that they don’t normally have. The center also hosts special "pamper days" to support cancer patients and offers additional resources like a thrift shop, where I picked up a few items myself. Walking is a major part of daily life there, promoting wellness naturally.
While there, we worked closely with Mary and her husband to support the community center’s efforts. I also worked with local children, teaching them proper handwashing and sanitizing techniques through fun songs and activities, and showed them how to properly brush their teeth — a basic but essential part of preventive health. In addition, I helped assist with running simple eye exams for the residents. These moments were some of the highlights of my experience.
This trip showed me public health in action. Public health focuses on improving the wellbeing of entire communities through prevention, education, and access to resources. In Donegal, I saw how strong community support, regular health monitoring, and simple preventive practices like handwashing and dental hygiene play a huge role in keeping people healthy, especially in rural areas with limited hospital access.
My future career goal is to become a public health professional, focusing on global and community health. I also hope to gain experience in epidemiology and maternal health. This trip reinforced my passion for working directly with communities and showed me the importance of strong, accessible public health systems — an experience that will stay with me as I continue my journey in this field.
Outside of our work, we had the opportunity to visit Dublin for some fun. Dublin gave me major New York City vibes — it was packed, full of shopping stores, and the apartment buildings made me feel like I was back at home. This trip was completely amazing, and I met some incredible people who I hope to cross paths with again in the healthcare field in the future.