Three determined students from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine have just scored a big win for their future careers. Clara Kelley, Jay Patel, and Rosie Davis landed themselves the coveted U.S. Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), a prestigious signal promising an immersive experience designed to elevate their language skills in regions critical to U.S. interests. According to the university's announcement, the program fully funds these future medical professionals for an eight to ten-week linguistic and cultural enlightenment journey.
Their summers won't be the typical break filled with relaxation and downtime. Instead, arranged to be spent overseas, the trio optimistically hopes to return with souvenirs and skills to serve them in the noble fields of medicine and public health. Eagerly waiting for the trip, Patel and Davis have their sights set on connecting their newfound understanding directly to their intended medical practices. Spending her summer studying Hindi in India, Kelley believes strongly in the power of language as a tool to bridge cultural divides, especially in the health sector.
Kelley, who is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in medical sciences at the College, expressed to University of Cincinnati News a personal and professional drive for accepting this challenge: "The opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and language is deeply connected to both my personal passions and professional aspirations." Her commitment reflects a larger trend of young professionals understanding the interconnectivity of global health and cross-cultural competency.
While the scholarship sends students to global destinations, the intentions are grounded firmly at home. The expectation is to enrich the students’ abilities to engage with patients and public health issues on a more effective, culturally nuanced level. Having been wearing glasses since age five, Patel, who looks forward to improving his linguistic acumen in Arabic, believes that the potential for individual growth is just as potent as the academic and professional progression provided by this experience. Davis, whose background in public health issues has inspired her to study Russian, sees it as a chance to be part of a broader dialogue on global health.
