Making a difference with medical missions
The mission of Campbell University is to “graduate students with exemplary academic and professional skills who are prepared for purposeful lives and meaningful service.” Pursuant to that goal, the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) has developed a sustainable international medical outreach program to train clinicians for the underserved areas of North Carolina, the United States and the developing world.
We believe Campbell University has an opportunity to become a world-recognized authority in global health. In hopes of graduating altruistic and compassionate physicians, CUSOM’s Department of Community and Global Health strives to do our part in producing community and globally-minded graduates by developing international partnerships and organizing and leading medical trips to resource-constrained settings. As a student at CUSOM, you will have the opportunity to take part in a program widely recognized for its excellence.
North Carolina and the nation
- Weekly mobile clinics providing health care in Harnett County and surrounding communities, as well as for migrant workers and their families in North Carolina.
- Standing health clinics for underserved patients in our local area.
- Partnering with local non-profit and faith organizations to provide vaccinations, health screenings and primary care to their communities.
- Utilizing our faculty and medical residents to train community healthcare professionals, administrators and providers.
International
Short Term Medical Missions
- Typically four annual short-term trips.
- Countries currently and previously visited include: Armenia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Ghana, and Jamaica.
- Strong relationships with permanent site ministries in Togo, Ecuador, Ghana, Angola, Liberia, Kenya, and Jamaica.
- Our department leadership has experience conducting clinics in India, Kenya, Nicaragua, Peru, Russia, and Ukraine and are exploring opportunities to reach additional communities.
Proposed Mission Trips for 2024-2025*
Fall 2024 – Dominican Republic – October 5-12, 2024
Winter 2024 – Guatemala – December 14-21, 2024
Spring 2025 – Western North Carolina – March 9-15, 2025 (dates subject to change)
Summer 2025 – Sierra Leone – May 27 – June 11, 2025 (dates subject to change)
* proposed trips are subject to cancellation and university approval.
Apply to Participate in a Mission TripMS-III and MS-IV International Rotations
- Our third and fourth year students may apply for month-long rotations in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin American countries with the goal of developing sites in Europe and Asia.
- Sites where Campbell medical students have previously experienced international rotations include: Ecuador- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Jamaica- Annotto Bay Hospital/St. Mary Parish Health Department, Honduras- Hospital Loma de Luz, Togo- Karolyn Kempton Christian Memorial Hospital/Hospital Baptiste Biblique (4th year students only), Angola- Centro Evangelico De Medicina Do Lubango Hospital, Tanzania – Bugando Medical Centre (Mwana), and Liberia- ELWA Hospital, Monrovia.
“…I feel as though I gained more from the people I served and worked with than I think I could have have ever given them. They changed my heart; they changed my priorities; and they shaped me into a better person, a better student and, hopefully, a better physician.”
Scholarships for Missions
The Department of Community and Global Health is grateful for the financial assistance made available to students each year through our Endowed Scholarship Program. Through the generosity of the University’s supporters, over $1 million has been contributed to our private scholarship endowment fund to help Campbell students participate in medical missions.
Available Scholarships*
Lacy S. and Mary Elizabeth Collier Medical Missions Scholarship**
Award Criteria: Students seeking a degree in one or more inter-professional health science programs at Campbell University. Awarded funds may offset travel and related expenses for students pursuing medical missions service as part of their medical training at Campbell University. Student recipients shall be known as Lacy S. and Mary Elizabeth Collier Medical Missions Scholars.
Glenn T. and Anne S. Infinger Medical Missions Scholarship**
Award Criteria: Students pursuing inter-professional medical missions service in medically underserved communities in the US and abroad during their studies at Campbell University. Student recipients shall be known as Glenn T. and Anne S. Infinger Medical Missions Scholars.
Frank Upchurch Medical Missions Scholarship
Award Criteria: Students seeking a degree in osteopathic medicine. Funds may offset travel and related expenses for students pursuing medical missions service as part of their medical training a the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Student recipients shall be known as Frank Upchurch Medical Missions Scholars.
Glenn and Joyce White Charitable Agency Medical Missions Scholarship**
Award Criteria: Students seeking a degree in one or more inter-professional health science programs at Campbell University. Awarded funds may offset travel and related expenses for students pursuing medical missions service as part of their medical training at Campbell University. Student recipients shall be known as Glenn and Joyce White Medical Missions Scholars.
* Funds are subject to approval through the financial aid department.
** These scholarships are available to graduate students in Campbell University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and School of Osteopathic Medicine. The Upchurch Scholarship is for osteopathic medical students only.
How to Apply
Current medical students who plan to participate in a medical mission trip are eligible to apply for endowed scholarship support. A committee composed of representatives from both health sciences schools will select the respective scholarship recipients. Scholarships may be applied to any Campbell Medicine-sponsored short-term international mission trip during the academic year.
To apply for 2024-2025 scholarship opportunities, please have the following items completed six weeks prior to the mission trip departure date.
- A cover letter (view rubric)
- An essay (view rubric)- How will your involvement on an international short-term trip serve to advance the mission of CUSOM?
- Be in good academic standing
All items must be submitted to Kristin Johnson at kljohnson@campbell.edu.
Students may also look into opportunities with the American Osteopathic Foundation (https://aof.org/grants/international-medical-outreach-travel-stipends), where they may find scholarships available.
Contact
For more information, contact the Department of Community and Global Health.
Dr. Joe Cacioppo, Chair of Community and Global Health | cacioppo@campbell.edu
Kristin Johnson, Administrative Director of Community and Global Health | kljohnson@campbell.edu | 910-893-7982