Chelsea Kline (Maternal and Child Health ’19) made a purposeful decision when she began her graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, as she wanted to dedicate her studies on the exploration of the influences on health seeking behavior. Since studying public health in Ecuador during her undergraduate studies, she has also had a particular focus on understanding the intersection of traditional and western medicine in indigenous communities.
In Ecuador, Chelsea combined her Spanish studies with her interest in human development and social services by interning at a hospital, where she focused on the health needs of the indigenous communities. She worked directly under a doula, who was the first line of communication for women between western medicine and traditional medicine practices. After witnessing the impact doulas have on community health, Chelsea began to explore her interest in Global Health.
Chelsea’s experience in Ecuador compelled her to enroll in the India: Global Health, Globalization, and Leadership course offered through the Center of Global Health and Social Responsibility during her second year of her graduate program. This course took place in Mysore, India over a three-week period, where she studied the health care delivery system in India, the significance of the social determinants of health in a globalized world, and the skills needed to be a leader in the global space.