Studying abroad (7-9 points)

 

My study abroad experience in South Africa provided meaningful, real-world insight into healthcare realities in Cape Town, South Africa. A major strength of the experience was seeing health systems operate under resource constraints, which deepened my understanding of how delays in recognition, transport, and treatment disproportionately affect neurological outcomes. However, the experience was limited by time and scope, as I was unable to follow patients longitudinally or fully explore community-based rehabilitation and caregiver perspectives. This experience connected closely with my academic background in psychology and health sciences, reinforcing patterns I have observed across settings: inequities in care often manifest as delays in treatment and recovery. It also highlighted the importance of prevention, patient education, and rehabilitation in improving quality of life after stroke. As a result, this experience clarified my aspiration to pursue work at the intersection of neuroscience, movement, and health equity. Moving forward, I plan to build on this experience through advanced training in physiology, as well as research and clinical opportunities focused on reducing disparities in stroke outcomes.

Ashe' Kelsey