Tibetan Refugee Health Session:

Transcription

1 Tibetan Refugee Health Session: June 7-June 21, 2017 with optional travel and cultural experience June 22-28, 2017 Length: 2 wks with optional week of travel and cultural experience Meeting Location: Dharamsala, India DESCRIPTION: This is an elective course open to medical students during the summer between their 1st and 2nd years. The course is run through a partnership between the Tulane School of Medicine and the Louisiana Himalaya Association (LHA) a 501c3 nonprofit social work organization dedicated to improving the lives of Tibetan refugees. This course is particularly well-suited to the student interested in global health, refugee health, rural medicine, community health, primary care or in the socioeconomics of medical care around the world. Our world is experiencing an ongoing global refugee crisis with these vulnerable populations expanding rapidly due to international sociopolitical instability. During this 2-week service elective students will travel to Dharamsala, India, to provide basic medical, dental, and vision screenings for Tibetan refugees and to assist in transitioning the refugees health care into the local Indian health system. Students will perform these duties under the supervision of an experienced attending family physician. They will learn about common pathology unique to a global health setting through reading, lectures, and physical exam training. Students will also learn about socioeconomic determinants of health and cultural competency subsequently applying their new knowledge and skills in the care of a refugee population. They will experience a healthcare system outside the U.S. and the social and cultural influences that affect patient care. Finally, students will learn about complementary and alternative forms of medical treatment within the traditional Tibetan belief system and will participate in the cultural exchange of healing traditions. Daily activities will include medical, dental, and vision assessments, team meetings with the attending physician, lectures by various local medical experts, tours of local medical facilities, and opportunities to learn from local practitioners. Examples include: Visit to Mother Teresa s House for the Dying and Destitute Dinner with Tibetan Medical Students Tour of a Western Medicine Hospital Tour of a Tibetan Medicine Hospital Lectures by experts on Ayurvedic Medicine, Tibetan Medicine, Eastern Allopathic Medicine, Buddhist Philosophy, and holistic treatment of patients (mind, body, spirit) At the conclusion of the formal course, there will be an optional 3rd week for students to remain in India to travel. While this 3rd week is not required, it is encouraged. The itinerary of this additional week will include opportunities for sightseeing, cultural immersion, and free time to explore. These extracurricular activities include: Eastern Mindfulness Practices (including meditation, breathing techniques, circumambulation, and yoga) Exploring ancient Buddhist temples (including visiting the Dalai Lama s temple) Exploring ancient Hindu temples Hiking Mt. Triund Exploring the tea and rice fields in a small Himalayan village Requirements prior to travel: Participation in pre-travel meetings Student must be fully enrolled and in good standing at TUSOM Visit Tulane Travel Clinic/Student Health for pre-travel visit to ensure student is up to date on pre-travel immunizations and for travel prophylactic medications. Phone Number: 988-

2 6169 or Register for SOS Evacuation Insurance for Tulane Students Review CDC Information for Travelers to India and Yellow Book chapter on India, see required readings Ensure passport is valid and up to date Obtain Indian Tourist Travel Visa: Complete pre-travel paperwork Complete a pre-travel interview with Dr. Byrne COURSE OUTLINE/SCHEDULE (subject to change at anytime): Wednesday June 7 Depart USA Thursday June 8 PM arrival at Delhi international Airport, stay at Ashok Country Resort Friday June 9 (Delhi) Free Breakfast in the Hotel Restaurant 7AM 930AM Team meeting in the Hotel Bar/Lounge *suggested that you order your lunch by noon, then pack out of your room before going back up to eat sometimes it takes them a long time to prepare lunch 2PM load jeeps and depart Into the Wilds of India including a guided Tour of Mother Theresa s Home for the Dying and Destitute and a visit to Delhi s main Sikh Gurudwara. We will do a walking tour of Delhi s Tibetan Refugee colony of Mashnuka Tila and have a Traditional Tibetan Group Dinner 830PM Auto transport to train station - Dhauldhar Express Leave Old Delhi station at 2245 and arriving Pathankot at 0820 Night Train to Pathancot Saturday June 10 (Dharamsala) AM Jeep Transport from train station to McLeod Ganj (approx 2.5 hours) Group Breakfast in Route 1PM Group lunch at Lha s soup kitchen in the Ahimsa House Dining Hall please spread out amongst the Tibetans eating there and make some small talk 330PM Meet in the Ahimsa House conference Room - Brief Ahimsa House orientation session This session will be followed by Guided Walk and Instructional tour of the Kora (The sacred Tibetan woodland path surrounding The Dalai Lama s Home). During this walk Neil will describe the practice of circumambulation a process which offers exercise, community, and a feeling of worth for Tibetan Elders. One of Tibetan secrets for aging beautifully! Following the Kora - Walking tour of McLeod Ganj including recommended restaurants,

3 laundry service, post office and the Lha Charitable Trust Volunteer center, Library and Fair Trade shop *receive a small map of the town 630PM Ahimsa House Conference Room -Team meeting/planning session 7:30 Group Dinner - Ahimsa House Dining Hall *Raj, the best rate money changer, will be at Dinner 8:30 Conference room Presentation on LHA Charitable Trust Sunday June 11 (Dharamsala) *Suggestion for early risers - Walk the Kora before breakfast. Elder Tibetans begin the walk every morning at the first sign of daylight. This is a very Peaceful and Happy time to be on the Kora. 630AM Optional Yoga session in the roof top conference room 730AM Group Breakfast in the Ahimsa House Dining Hall 9AM Tour of the Tibet Museum followed by Q&A session with Tashi Phuntsok the museum director Following the Tibet museum will be a guided tour of The Dalai Lama s main temple 2PM *approximately a 45 minute hike to Men-Tsee-Khan (wear comfortable shoes for walking) 3PM Tour of Men-Tsee-Khan The Tibetan Institute for Medicine & Astrology - Introduction to Traditional Tibetan Medicine 5PM Tour of the Tibetan Delek Hospital (Tibetan hospital for western Medicine) The tour will be followed by a lecture with Q&A on TB and Infectious disease among the Tibetan Community by Dr. Tenzin Desel of the Tibetan Delek Hospital 7PM Ahimsa House Conference Room - Team meeting 730PM Group Dinner - Ahimsa House Dining Hall 830PM Presentation on Louisiana Himalaya Association Monday June 12 (Dharamsala) 630AM Optional Yoga session in the roof top conference room 730AM Group Breakfast in the Ahimsa House Dining Hall 9AM Conference Room - Team Meeting/planning session: A look at Cultural Sensitivities and Mindfulness while serving with the Tibetan Community and the Tibetan relationship with Suffering (Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional). Introduction to assessments by attending physician. 1030AM Conference Room - Lecture on Buddhist Philosophy in relation to physical health and mental well being with Speaker Geshe Lakdor, a Tibetan monk who is director of the Tibetan Library/Archives and was the previous translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 3PM Ahimsa House Conference room - Meet the local medical, dental and eye care practitioners whom we will be referring patients to. General instruction followed by Q&A 6PM Ahimsa House Conference Room -Team meeting/planning session Meet the translators 730PM Group Dinner - Ahimsa House Dining Hall Tuesday June 13 (Dharamsala)

4 630AM Optional Yoga session in the roof top conference room 730AM Group Breakfast in the Ahimsa House Dining Hall 9AM Conference Room - Break into sub teams and engage in health screenings with Tibetan nuns 330PM Buddhist perspectives on Death and Dying by Professor Samdhong Rinpoche 530PM Conference Room - Team meeting: Discussion on what worked well and the difficulties discovered, problem solving session. 730PM Group Dinner at Lha s Ahimsa House Wednesday June 14 (Dharamsala) 630AM Optional Yoga session in the roof top conference room 730AM Group Breakfast in the Ahimsa House Dining hall 9AM Conference Room - Break into sub teams and engage in health screenings with Tibetan nuns 5PM Conference Room - Q&A about assessments performed with Dr Tenzin Desel of Tibetan Delek hospital 630PM Dinner at Ahimsa house dining hall with Tibetan medical students Thursday June 15 (Dharamsala) 630AM Optional Yoga session in the roof top conference room 730AM Group Breakfast in the Ahimsa House Dining Hall 9AM Conference Room - Break into sub teams to finish health screenings and engage in Health Education projects with Tibetan nuns 330PM Conference Room - Lecture on Ayurvedic Medicine 730PM optional opportunity TBA Friday June 16 (Dharamsala) TBD Saturday June 17 (Dharamsala) 830AM Group Breakfast in the Ahimsa House Dining Hall FREE Morning 3PM Team meeting Records and stats 730 PM Group dinner in the Ahimsa House Dining Hall Sunday June 18 (Bir)

5 730AM Group Breakfast in the Ahimsa House Dining Hall *stop in Dharamsala to get group permits to visit Bir have a copy of your passport and visa (permit required for tourist) 9AM Auto transport to Bir with a stop and tour of Norbulinka, which is the Institute for the preservation of Tibetan Culture through the teaching of Tibetan Art. We will tour the Art School, museum, handicrafts workshops and the Japanese Gardens that surround the institute. Bir, the location of the next phase of our project, is a Tibetan Settlement nestled amid tea plantations in the foothills of the Himalayas. Our Guide, the Venerable Lobin Kunsang, is head Monk at the monastery where we will be staying in Bir, which gives our group inside access to many aspects of monastic life there. Group Lunch at Norbulinka Upon arrival in Bir - check in and relax (the guest house restaurant is recommended) 6PM Team Meeting in the Group Room above the Restaurant Monday June 19 (Bir) Suggestion for early risers: Morning meditation and rituals with the Monks in the main temple. This option is available each morning we are in Bir 9AM Preparation and planning meeting in the meeting room above the restaurant 11AM Break into sub teams and engage in health screenings with Tibetan monks Group lunch with the monks 430PM Mutual learning conversation with the monks 6PM Team Meeting in the Group Room above the Restaurant Tuesday June 20 (Bir) 9AM Break into sub teams and engage in health screenings with Tibetan monks Group lunch with the monks 3PM Lecture on Homeopathic medicine with a visit to the doctor s permaculture farm & home 6PM Team Meeting in the Group Room above the Restaurant Wednesday June 21 (Bir) 9AM Break into teams and engage in health screenings with Tibetan monks Group lunch with the monks

6 3PM Hike into the hills above Bir with a visit to the Organic Green Tea factory 6PM Team Meeting in the Group Room above the Restaurant Thursday June 22 (Bir) 9AM Break into teams and do health education projects with Tibetan monks Group lunch with the monks 330PM Sub Group meetings to finalize records of health service needs discovered 6PM Team Meeting in the Group Room above the Restaurant Friday June 23 (Bir) 9AM Trek through the Indian Villages and Tea Plantations surrounding Bir. Tour the Tibetan Children Village School TCV and visit Sherab Ling, the area s largest and most majestic monastery known for its incredible artwork. (This is about a two hour hike each way taxi options available) Group Lunch at Sherab Ling TBD Saturday June 24 (Gallu) FREE Morning 1PM Lunch 2PM Auto transport to Gallu (approx. 5 hour ride) - Gallu is the high mountain community of the Gaddi People sitting on the peaks above Dharamsala. We will stay in a rustic guesthouse overlooking incredible views of the Himalayas. 730PM Group Dinner prepared by our hosts Ajay and Veema (a local organic vegetarian home cooked meal) Sunday June 25 (Himalayan Trek) Trekking in the Himalayas Group Dinner 7PM **For those not interested in Trekking, other opportunities can be discussed and planned. ***It is also an option to end the India journey at this time and return to Delhi on the Night bus to fly back to the US early Monday June 26 (Himalayan Trek) Trek down from the mountains - estimated to be back in McLeod by early afternoon 6PM Our group gives a power point presentation to the Lha staff about the work we performed and experiences we ve had. Farewell dinner gathering with the Lha staff Tuesday June 27 (Dharamsala) Free day in McLeod for shopping and to explore points of personal interest Group Lunch at Carpe Diem

7 Night Bus back to Delhi *Option to take a domestic flight instead of the bus the flight cost of approximately $100 is not included but the extra night hotel in Delhi would be included in the group budget Wednesday June 28 (Delhi) Arrive Delhi early AM Day of rest at Ashok Resort PM departure flights for USA ACCOMODATIONS Delhi: 2 nights at Ashok Country Resort ( Ashok Country Resort A Family run Eco-Friendly Boutique Hotel situated only 4 Km. from Indira Gandhi International Airport and about 16 Km. from the Delhi commercial center of Connaught Place and about 8kms away from the new business hub 'Gurgaon', This makes the Resort very central. The hotel is surrounded by greens in a tranquil environment, suitable for relaxation and rejuvenation. The rooms are elegantly designed & well equipped with guest amenities like wi-fi connectivity, 24hrs room services, hot and cold water, tea/coffee maker, a doctor on call, laundry services, to name a few. Dharamsala: 11 nights at the LHA Charitable Trust Ahimsa Guest House ( Ahimsa Guest house is operated as part of the Cultural Exchange Program at LHA, as a comfortable location for visiting cultural exchange groups to stay during their time in Dharamsala. For group convenience, the guest house includes a community kitchen and a common room for meeting space. Located near the main street in town, Ahimsa is known for its clean rooms, hot water, water filtration system, and wi-fi access, not to mention beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and villages. Bir: 6 nights at Palyul Nyingmapa Monastery Guest House ( Bir is a Tibetan Settlement nestled amid tea plantations in the foothills of the Himalayas. Our Guide, the Venerable Lobin Kunsang, is head Monk at the monastery where we will be staying in Bir, which gives our group inside access to many aspects of monastic life there. The group will be staying at the monastery s guest house, which includes a recommended restaurant and group meeting space. COST BREAKDOWN FOR STUDENTS Students: $1650 each for India expenses and includes: Lodging Transportation Volunteer Opportunities 1 meal a day (some days 2) o Guided Tours