GLOBAL HEALTH INITIATIVE

Welcome to the DR! GLA staff will meet you at the airport (Puerto Plata – POP or Santiago de los Caballeros – STI) and take you to the Home Base located about an hour away. We’ll get settled in, have our first Dominican meal together, and then launch into some team-building activities.

Spend your first full day in the Dominican Republic exploring Las Canas, learning about your service projects, and diving into an intro to medical Spanish, capped off with a group discussion on global health and a hearty dinner.

Apply your medical Spanish while assisting doctors at the clinic and observing the impact of healthcare on the community, then enjoy a beachside soccer game with local youth. In the evening, reflect on the day’s experiences in mentor groups and participate in your first leadership activity.

After several days of intense service, you’ll have the chance to relax and recharge at Dudu Lagoon, a breathtaking cenote known for its crystal-clear blue waters and stunning underwater caves. Spend time swimming, lounging by the lagoon, or playing volleyball with fellow students and locals. Later, you’ll visit Playa Preciosa, a secluded beach with pristine white sands and turquoise waters, perfect for soaking in the sun and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

Travel to San Francisco de Macorís for a tour of a top medical university, including a Q&A with healthcare professionals, then explore the city’s colonial architecture and local shops before returning to the beach for evening reflection with your peers.

Today, we’ll assist at our final pop-up clinic, helping guide patients through the stations, shadowing the doctors, and making sure everything runs efficiently so as many community members as possible can be seen. In the afternoon, we’ll take shade under a tree to learn about the prevalence of water-borne diseases in the communities we’re serving and the importance of sanitation projects.

Tour both public and private hospitals in the surrounding rural communities, meet with doctors to learn about their experiences, and contribute hands-on to the construction of a rural healthcare clinic. Evenings are spent reflecting on the differences in healthcare systems and participating in leadership activities to set meaningful goals.

Today, we’ll embark on an exhilarating zipline adventure, soaring through the treetops and enjoying breathtaking views of the tropical landscape. After ziplining, we’ll relax by the pool before returning to the Home Base for a cultural night where we’ll learn the rhythms and beats of the DR and learn the steps of typical dances, such as bachata and merengue.

Continue building the rural healthcare clinic while learning sustainable construction techniques, then reflect with peers on your accomplishments and their impact on broader global health issues.

Our last day in the DR has arrived! Relax today with a snorkeling adventure in the crystal-clear Caribbean. The boat will stop in a spot that’s ideal for jumping in and checking out the tropical fish and coral that inhabit the area. Spend the day swimming in warm, inviting water, and post up on the beach for a well-deserved nap. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate all of your accomplishments and reflect on your experience in the DR

Alas, our Dominican adventure must come to an end! After breakfast and final goodbyes, we’ll travel to the airport together to board our flights home. At the airport, GLA staff will help you check in and see you off for your journey.