Joshua Brown Reflection – Expanding Knowledge of Global Occupational Therapy in Bolivia

Joshua Brown is a College of Health Professions student at MUSC. He was awarded a Center for Global Health Student & Trainee Travel Grant in the fall of 2022 to pursue a project with Child Family Health International in La Paz, Bolivia. View more photos of Joshua’s time in Bolivia in this Flickr photo gallery.

My experience in Bolivia via Child Family Health International can be summed up in one word: inspirational. Not in the usual sense of the word, but rather, as an extension of the word “educational.” By that, I mean it increased my knowledge of health care disparities, but also fueled my desire to alleviate those disparities. By observing physical therapists and an autism specialist, I gained insight into the current state of Bolivian health care. For starters, they are in desperate need of occupational therapists. This isn’t me projecting my privileged opinion on the people of Bolivia. This is a need expressed by all the health care professionals I had the opportunity to meet. I also learned quite a bit about occupational theory. These two things combined, occupational theory and the expressed need of diversified health care professionals, ultimately led to my use of the word “inspirational.” My Bolivia experience ushered in a new eagerness to finish earning my degree and exploring the world as a practitioner.

Child Family Health International offered me something I had never experienced before: helplessness. I do not speak Spanish fluently, let alone Bolivian Spanish. I was given private Spanish lessons three times per week, but two weeks was not enough for me to develop a complex understanding of the language. I would say that my second learning objective was only partially completed. I did not develop the patient rapport skills I wanted with the patients I had in Bolivia. This was due to the language barrier I experienced. On the other hand, I did develop rapport skills for my patients back in the United States as I learned enough Spanish to communicate some concepts more effectively.

Lastly, I do think I equipped myself to handle stressful situations. I was forced to learn. I was on my own for a vast majority of the time. I needed to learn the layouts of the two conjoined cities I was stationed in. I needed to learn words and phrases to get where I needed to go, without being taken advantage of. This came with the cost of a lot of time and a lot of wasted money. Bolivia taught me how to remain relaxed when all your senses are confused. In an emergency like the start of the covid-19 pandemic or warfare, the acting health care professionals must be the most level-headed individuals. Thousands of people rely on us every day. It turns to millions when emergencies arise.

Overall, I would highly recommend this CFHI experience to any professional. I believe the need for rehabilitation specialists and dentists is the highest priority. MUSC has the capacity to address these areas of concern. Furthermore, MUSC has the obligation and the responsibility of alleviating these disparities. I intend to take what I have learned into my capstone experience. This was truly one of the most amazing opportunities I have had in my career.