Public Health in Palau

"My passion in life is applying technology to global development issues," said Nirav Patel, electrical and computer engineering senior. Patel followed that passion this past summer all the way to Palau, an island in the Pacific Ocean.

Patel went to Palau as part of the Technology Consulting in the Global Community (TCinGC) program. TCinGC enables students to consult with a non-profit organization in a developing country for a summer, helping them sustainably solve problems using technology. Patel consulted with the Palau Ministry of Health, along with fellow Carnegie Mellon student, Courtenay O'Conner. "Our projects were helping those working under the Minister of Health create an Institutional Review Board, track medical licensure, implement an integrated medical library system, and track medical referrals," said Patel.

"Beyond the obvious impact for the Palau Ministry of Health," said Patel, "the impact on me was an appreciation for what it takes to make a project sustainable, as well as a greater understanding of how to work within a different culture.

Patel heard about the program through TechBridgeWorld, which, along with the Palau Ministry of Health, covered the costs of this work abroad opportunity.