Rutgers • Robert Wood Johnson Medicine • Fall 2015 Page 17

Robert Wood Johnson

MEDICINE 15

returned to the United States, I felt very comfortable con-
versing in Spanish and was confident that I knew what was
being communicated.

Both Robert Wood Johnson Medical School's Office of

Global Health and Universidad CES in Medellín did an
excellent job of securing housing for us with a warm and
inviting host family in a safe neighborhood. Our host mom
made traditional Colombian meals for us, showed us some

of her favorite areas of Medellín, and even took us to vol-
unteer at the local orphanage where she had adopted her
son.

Medellín--"the City of Eternal Spring," as it is affec-

tionately nicknamed--taught me more about myself in one
month that I could ever have dreamed. Traveling abroad
gives students the perspective they need to have a deeper
understanding of the people they will encounter in their
careers, as well as a firm grounding for their role as physi-
cians in society. At times, medical school can be an isolat-
ing and difficult journey, but this trip reinforced my desire
to always strive to broaden my horizons and reminded me
of the larger purposes of becoming a doctor.

Medellín

--`the City of Eternal Spring,' as it is

affectionately nicknamed--taught me more about myself in
one month that I could ever have dreamed. Traveling abroad
gives students the perspective they need to have a deeper
understanding of the people they will encounter in their
careers, as well as a firm grounding for their role as
physicians in society." --Lauren Evans

PHOTOS

COURTESY

OF
LAUREN

EVANS