In January and February 2011, occupational therapy (OT) students partnered with physiotherapy (PT) students to participate in international global health fieldwork placements in Georgetown, Guyana and Moshi, Tanzania. Interprofessional global health placements encourage students to share both clinical and cultural experiences, students learn from and gain a new level of respect for each other as professionals as they navigate the many new experiences of international work. Meghan Barry (OT), Ashley Gorges (OT), Rebecca Long (PT) and Julie Woodroffe (PT) went to rehabilitation centres in Georgetown, Guyana and Haley Augustine (OT) and Doug Murray (PT) went to Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation Tanzania in Moshi, Tanzania. Students were partnered together to promote peer learning and collaboration, and were supervised by local therapists.

Organized by Heidi Lauckner (International Fieldwork Education Coordinator, OT), Gail Wainwright (Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, PT) and the Program Manager at the Global Health Office, these interprofessional global health fieldwork placements were described by one student as “an invaluable experience I will carry and apply to my future practice for the rest of my career.” To learn more about the experiences of these students, read the May 2011 issue of the FHP News & Events Update.