Arts in Healthcare Service Learning in the Gambia HUM 4956, 2 credits Summer B: July 20-31, 2009 Instructor: Jill Sonke-Henderson

Course Description:
Students will travel to the Gambia, West Africa, to undertake mentored arts in healthcare service work in several healthcare, educational, and cultural settings. Required readings, discussion, and written reflection will assist students in developing a greater understanding of the roles of the arts in healthcare and in healthcare and healing systems in a developing nation. The course will include service learning, excursions to culturally and historically relevant sites in the Gambia, and active social and cultural exchange with peers and Gambian residents, including artists and healthcare professionals.

Objectives:
+ Students will gain an understanding of the history and cultural traditions of the Gambia
+ Students will gain an understanding of rural and urban healthcare systems in the Gambia
+ Through arts in healthcare clinical service in hospital, bush clinic, school and village settings, students will gain an understanding of the roles of the arts in healthcare
+ Through clinical service in hospital, bush clinic, village settings, students will gain experience at the patient bedside and develop arts in healthcare clinical practice skills
+Through international service learning in the Gambia, students will expand their world-view and cultural understanding

Accomodations:
Bakadaji Cultural Hotel, Serrakunda, The Gambia
http://www.bakadajihotel.gm/eng/inf_afrika.html

Clinical Sites:
Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital
Brikama Hospital
Kubeneh Health Center
Kanuma Village

Cultural Exchange Sites:
Brikama Jedda Lower School
Maali School of Music and Dance

Excursions:
James Island slave trading historical site
Traditional Healer in Kartong
Kartong Art Co-op
Museum of the Gambia
Brikama Market
Banjul Market

Course Admission Requirements
Completion of one Arts in Healthcare course at UF OR
3 months of documented volunteer work with Shands Arts in Medicine or a similar arts in healthcare program AND Instructor permission

For questions, please contact Jill Sonke-Henderson at jsonke@ufl.edu.