Health in Belize Summer

• Open to all students at the University of Georgia who meet requirements.
• REQUIRED:
  • Students must have completed or be enrolled in BIOL 1108/L at the time of application.
  • Have university credit for two or more science courses in biological sciences, chemistry, ecology, physics prior to submitting application.
  • 3.0 or higher GPA.
  • Satisfactory academic and disciplinary records.
• PREFERRED:
  • Qualified students enrolled with a pre-health intention who have met with an advisor from the Pre-Professional Advising Office.
  • Have successfully completed two or more science courses in biological sciences, chemistry, ecology, physics for a grade (A-F) at UGA prior to submitting application.
  • Have successfully completed 30 credit hours at UGA prior to submitting application.
  • Have a 3.3 or higher GPA.

• Begin an application on the studyaway.uga.edu portal.
• Written application will be reviewed and selected applicants will be invited (via email) for a brief interview with the program directors. 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 application portal 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.

Dr. Yass Kobayashi
Associate Professor of Medical Education in Physiology
University of Georgia School of Medicine

Casey Ellis, M.A.
Pre-Professional Advisor
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

Belize is a relatively small developing nation located on the northeastern coast of Central America. It shares borders with Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. With a population nearing half a million, it is home to various languages and ethnic groups that include: Mestizo (of Spanish and indigenous descent), Creole (of European and African descent), Maya, Garifuna (of African and Caribbean indigenous descent), and smaller groups of European and Asian heritage. A former colony of the British Empire, Belize gained full independence in September 1981. While other languages are actively spoken in the country, English has remained the official language.

The Belizean two-tiered healthcare system comprises public hospitals and clinics that serve the population at little or no direct cost and private hospitals and clinics that require payment but are generally better equipped. As part of the public health system, Belize has a network of trained volunteer community healthcare workers who assist with basic care in rural areas.

The primary location of this program is in the western city of San Ignacio, 7 kilometers from the Guatemalan border. The second location (3 days) is Hopkins Village on the Carribean Coast.

The program arrives and departs from Philip S. W. Goldson Airport in Belize City. Upon arrival, the group transfers to San Ignacio in Western Belize near the Guatemalan. It remains there for the majority of the trip at the Cabin Log Inn. The program ends in Hopkins, a small town on the Caribbean coast. Program participants will share comfortable, air-conditioned, medium-range accommodations, with most meals included. Laundry services are available, but not included in the program.