InteRDom hosts CCNY Partners for Change Public Health Researchers in the Dominican Republic

The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership’s initiative Partners for Change has teamed up with the InteRDom program to bring a group of student public health researchers to conduct field work in Santo Domingo from April 13-19, 2014.

The program schedule in the Dominican Republic includes site visits to two health-related nonprofit organizations located outside of the capital and to numerous clinics run by the Ministry of Public
Health, where researchers will interview patients, workers and key stakeholders in the areas of maternal/child health and HIV/AIDS. The group will also participate in workshops on these topics, conducted by Dr. Persia Sena, a close InteRDom partner, to learn more about the current situation in the Dominican Republic. To complement their research activities, the participants will also watch a documentary film on Dominican-Haitian relations and go on a special tour of the historic Colonial
Zone on Trikke scooters.

The Colin Powell School’s Partners for Change Initiative is designed to harness the energy of CCNY students and the resources of the university in new and innovative ways by partnering with community organizations in specific subject areas to provide CCNY students with hands-on learning opportunities. Students take specialized courses and participate in internships and research projects with partner organizations to execute high-impact
service projects, conduct research and raise awareness about critical issues. The group of students traveling to the Dominican Republic is part of the international development track of the program.

This partnership with Partners for Change is an extension of InteRDom’s long-standing relationship with CCNY, which began with a summer service learning program in 2011. InteRDom is excited to work with the Colin Powell School and continue to grow the opportunities
available for CCNY students in the Dominican Republic.

InteRDom, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), is the premier internship, research and academic study program in the Dominican Republic. It offers international students the opportunity
to research important topics at the forefront of the United Nations agenda, obtain professional experience by interning with Dominican organizations and businesses related to their fields of study and/or earn academic credits by taking courses and seminars at a local university.

About Dr. Persia Sena
Dr. Persia Sena is a pediatrician at Hospital Materno-Infantil Santo Socorro in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She holds a
degree in Health Administration from the Universidad Católica de Santo Domingo and a sub-specialization in Pediatric Cutaneous Diseases from the University of Cádiz, Spain, as well as many other courses in Argentina and Nicaragua. She has been recognized by the Dominican Medical Association for her work on behalf of the Dominican Medical Resident Training. Dr. Sena has also participated in several studies about respiratory diseases and malnutrition in children, dengue, urinary tract
infections, leukemia, and vaccinations for AIDS prevention. She has published many articles in different scientific health journals.