Mission Sambhavna Clinic
On December 3rd 1984, over 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, immediately killing more than 3,800 people and causing significant health problems and premature death for thousands more. The water and soil contamination caused by this tragedy still plays a major role in the Bhopal community today. Two generations later, children are being born blind, deaf, deformed and cognitively impaired because of genetic mutations incurred by the local environment's polluted resources. IHC students in my class took interest in addressing this issue.
In January of 2016, the IHC major offered a course that combined travel abroad to Bhopal, India with a service-learning project at the Sambhavna Clinic, an integrated health clinic that provides free Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine to the survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster. Fourteen Integrative Health Care (IHC) students, including myself, and two Metropolitan State University of Denver professors, Carol Jensen and Dr. Emily Matuszewicz, traveled in this study abroad experience. We stayed on the clinic grounds, participated in a multiple service learning projects, studied clinic operations and medical practices, joined community healthcare volunteers, attended lectures by local health experts, practiced yoga and meditation, and visited world heritage sites. In addition to providing us with an exceptional opportunity to gain hands-on experience, this trip offered us the opportunity to learn the ways in which medicine function’s around the world, in a culture outside our own, and how we can weave that wisdom into the health care system of our own country.
In January of 2016, the IHC major offered a course that combined travel abroad to Bhopal, India with a service-learning project at the Sambhavna Clinic, an integrated health clinic that provides free Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine to the survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster. Fourteen Integrative Health Care (IHC) students, including myself, and two Metropolitan State University of Denver professors, Carol Jensen and Dr. Emily Matuszewicz, traveled in this study abroad experience. We stayed on the clinic grounds, participated in a multiple service learning projects, studied clinic operations and medical practices, joined community healthcare volunteers, attended lectures by local health experts, practiced yoga and meditation, and visited world heritage sites. In addition to providing us with an exceptional opportunity to gain hands-on experience, this trip offered us the opportunity to learn the ways in which medicine function’s around the world, in a culture outside our own, and how we can weave that wisdom into the health care system of our own country.
Fundraising Benefit Dinner - The Sambhavana Gala
I organized, planned and hosted in a group effort a fundraising event with a four-course dinner, entertainment and silent auction that raised over $25,000. We did our own marketing, sold tickets, attained cooperate sponsors and donations for this 200 hundred-person event that raised money for the Sambhavna Clinic in Bhopal India and student funds for travel to the clinic. The event was held at the Posner Center in doentown Denver, the collaborative for Global Solutions. With my culinary arts background I created and cooked the menu for our passed appetizers
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View My Digital Story – “Study Abroad in Bhopal, India: A Student’s Story”
Learn More About The Sambhavna Clinic
Travel
Travel and adventures are becoming a very important part of my life. I seek to find an occupation where I can not only impact my local community, but also explore and influence this globalized world where we are all connected.
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula & Cozumel
- Switzerland
- Hawaii
- 31 out of the 50 states in the United States of America
Outdoor Experience
Being in nature and wilderness spaces drives my existence. I have much experience and many skills unique to surviving in the wild.
- I have organization and planned many extended white water river rafting trips. Some, but minimal oaring experience. San Juan River, Green River, Yampa River, Dolores River, and the upper Colorado River.
- Planning and organizing backcountry and backpacking trips is one of my specialties. Many trips have included 3-10 day long extended stays in the wilderness. I have a goal to one-day hike the Colorado Trail in its entirety.
- I am an avid mountain climber with semi-technical free hand climbing experience. I have summited 40 of Colorado's 14,000' peaks, and a handful of other 13,000' and 12,000' peaks.
- I have 25 years of snowboarding & skiing experience.