Global Practicum for Students

In the post-pandemic era, nurses can make a huge difference to patient care and treatment outcomes, particularly in areas with limited public health resources. The Global Clinical Experiences offered by the Columbia University School of Nursing is a unique way for students to learn about global health and equity. The practicum allows graduating students to spend six weeks learning under the leadership of nurses in other countries.

Columbia Global Centers | Mumbai, the central partner for the practicum in India, organizes orientation sessions for students to familiarize them with the public health landscape and nursing ecosystem in India. The sessions, led by experts, offer an overview of the critical public health challenges and common infectious diseases prevalent in India.

Our Programs

As part of the Global Students Experiences, the Center has conducted three orientation seminars for students ahead of their six-week-internship. The first session on April 8, 2019 was led by Dr. Nerges Mistry, Trustee and Director of The Foundation for Medical Research. She elaborated on the communicable diseases (tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, viral fevers, dengue) and non-communicable diseases (cancers, mental health problems, diabetes and hypertension) that are prevalent in the country. Students also learned about a holistic, drug-resistant tuberculosis project in Mumbai run by Médecins Sans Frontières through a presentation by Dr. Ramanpreet Kaur, Co-Founder and Executive Editor. Journal of Public Health and Allied Sciences.

To capture the learning from the internships, the Center organized a virtual student convening on June 10, 2022, where the nursing interns shared how their experience at Bel-Air added value to their clinical journey as global nurses. They discussed the importance of holistic care in treating infectious diseases, particularly the benefits of good nutrition, and mental health support for patients.