Health in Cuba
Health in Cuba
This program is a collaboration between the Office of Global Engagement and the Pre-Professional Advising Office.
The Health in Cuba program offers a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to travel to a country rarely visited by Americans. This program is intended for UGA students who plan to pursue careers in healthcare and who are working actively toward this goal. Participants will learn about Cuban's world renowned healthcare system through guest lectures, round table discussions, healthcare facilities visits, and other related activities. In addition to these experiences, participants will enroll in BIOL 4910 (Advanced Topics in Biology) for 3-credit hours. This program meets UGA’s experiential learning requirement.
BIOL 4910 - Topics in Biology
This program meets UGA's experiential learning requirement.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, some aspects of this program may be modified to ensure the health and safety of the participants while in Cuba.
The program provides an in-depth look at the ideological foundations of healthcare in the island nation, its successes, and its challenges while simultaneously examining the successes and challenges of our system in the US. Through carefully curated activities, this program offers a unique academic and travel experience for undergraduate students who seek to grow in cultural awareness while learning about another healthcare system.
Program participants will live together in student residences and tour historical and cultural sites in Havana. Check the itinerary tab for more detail.
This program is perfect for students who seek a short but intensive experience in one of the world's most intriguing countries.
Important notes:
Spanish language knowledge is not necessary to participate in this program. Professional interpreters will be present at all guest lectures and academic visits.
Program participants will be required to attend pre-departure orientations and academic meetings in the spring semester.
Passport and visa information. Students and faculty participating in this program will travel to Cuba under a general academic license granted by the U.S. Department of Treasury to all U.S. institutions of higher learning. In addition to the general license, each participant will need an Cuban entry visa. To help facilitate the visa process, all participants must have a valid U.S. passport by March 1, 2023. Participants who already own a valid passport must check the expiration date. All passports must be valid for six months after the entry date to Cuba. Please note that the current processing time for a U.S. passport is 10-12 weeks at the cost of $145, and the processing time for an expedited passport is 4-6 weeks at the cost of $187.
Non-US citizens may travel with the program. Please contact hmmata@uga.edu for more visa information.
General Information
Program Dates: June 10 -June 20, 2024
Estimated Program Fee:The cost below is for the 2023 program. Prices for the 2024 program are being confirmed.
Note that the 2024 program is two days longer than the 2023 program. $2,115 (includes lodging, breakfast, several lunches and dinners, program-related
transportation, and entrance fees for program-related academic and cultural activities).
It does not include plane fare, UGA tuition or UGA fees. Prices will vary depending on enrollment,
but should not exceed the current estimated program fee. Click here for more details.
Application Opens: August 16, 2023
Application Deadline: October 15, 2023
Program Contacts: Ms. Amanda Spohn (aspohn@uga.edu) and Dr. Hilda Mata (hmmata@uga.edu)
Applicant Eligibility
- Open to all students at the University of Georgia.
- Required
- Students must have taken or be enrolled in BIOL 1108/L at the time of application. BIOL 1108/L is a prereq for the courses taught in the program.
- Have university credit for at least two science courses (in biological sciences, chemistry, ecology, physics/astronomy) prior to application.
- 3.0 or higher GPA.
- Satisfactory academic and disciplinary records.
- Preferred
- qualified students enrolled with a pre-health intention will be given priority.
- successfully completed at least two sciences courses (in biological sciences, chemistry, ecology, physics/astronomy) for a grade (A-F) at UGA.
- successfully completed at least 30 credit hours at UGA prior to application.
- 3.3 or higher GPA earned at UGA.
Admission Process
- Begin an application on the studyaway.uga.edu portal.
- Only applications completed by deadline will be reviewed.
- Selected applicants will be invited (via email) to interview with the program faculty. Please note that an interview does not guarantee admittance into the program due to the limited number of spaces. Interviews, however, are a mandatory part of the selection process.
- Once all interviews are completed, applicants will be notified via email whether they have been admitted or waitlisted.
- Admitted students will have 10 calendar days from the date of acceptance to commit (or withdraw/decline) and pay a non-refundable $300 deposit. Waitlisted students will be admitted as spaces become available.
Passport and Visa Information
- Passport and visa information. Students and faculty participating in this program will travel to Cuba under a general academic license granted by the U.S. Department of Treasury to all U.S. institutions of higher learning. In addition to the general license, each participant will need an entry visa. To help facilitate the visa process, all participants must have a valid U.S. passport by February 1. Participants who already own a valid passport must check the expiration date. All passports must be valid for six months after the entry date to Cuba. Please note that the current processing time for a U.S. passport is 10-13 weeks at the cost of $145, and the processing time for an expedited passport is 4-6 weeks at the cost of $187. .
- Non-US citizens may travel with the program. Please contact hmmata@uga.edu for more visa information.
Faculty
Dr. Jonathan A. Dees. Ph.D
Senior Lecturer
Division of Biological Sciences
University of Georgia
Lise Kalla, Ed.S
Pre-Professional Adviosr
Pre-Professional Advising Office
Office of the Vice-President for Instruction
University of Georgia
Program Administration
Hilda M. Mata, Ph.D. | Office of Global Engagement | Director, Africa/Latin America Programming Initiatives
Amanda Spohn, M.Ed. | Pre-Professional Advising Office | Coordinator
Location
Havana, located in western Cuba, is the island's capital and most populous city with 2.1 million residents. The Spanish name of the city is La Habana.
Itinerary
(This itinerary is subject to change)
This is the 2023 itinerary. We are in the process of confirming the 2024 itinerary. Please note the 2024 itinerary will have two additional days.
Breakfast and dinner in student residence unless otherwise specified. Lunch is included
in program cost, but locations will vary.
June 10: Program will depart from Atlanta to Havana via Miami International Airport. In-country
health and safety orientation by program provider. Transfer to student residence for
dinner and rest. If time permits, tour of the Vedado Neighborhood
June 11: Walking tour of La Habana Vieja (Old Havana), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. City
Tour via Classic Cars. Salsa class.
June 12: First guest lecture: Overview of Cuba Healthcare System. Afternoon visit to a polyclinic
and a family doctor's office. Afternoon class.
June 13: Medical Visits: (1) Cuban University of Medical Sciences and (2) Dental Clinic. Afternoon
class.
June 14: Medical Visits: (1) Hospital and (2) Green Pharmacy "La Botica de la Abuela". Afternoon
class.
June 15: Medical Visit: Mother-Infant Clinic and Group Lunch and round table with Cuban Medical
Students. Afternoon class.
June 16: Mental Health in Cuba - Visit or round table with Mental Health. Medical Visit: Cuban
Medical Research Center. Class time.
June 17: Visit the Almacenes San Jose for souvenir shopping / time to explore Old Havana.
Catered lunch and API farewell event at beach.
June 18: Bid farewell to beautiful Havana and fly home!
