Students gain skills in medicine and nutrition on trip abroad

Riverside, Calif. (June 23, 2026) — Audrey Ramirez (’26) was always drawn to serving others, but the recent trip to Africa with California Baptist University’s College of Health Science reinforced her “why” for studying medicine.

The 10-day trip taught students how nutrition can be utilized in the medical field and different cultures, said Natalie Reed, Integrative Nutrition and Dietetics program director. Dr. Rebecca Meyer, director for the nurse educator program, led the trip alongside Reed.

Ramirez said that they spoke with patients for lengthy amounts of time, which taught her the importance of flexibility. In the United States there is a set time frame for everything, but in other cultures that is not the case, said Ramirez, who earned a health science degree.

“Healthcare is not just diagnosing or treating; it’s seeing someone as a whole person,” she said.

In the tropical climate of Soroti, Uganda, the team of six helped at medical camps for the elderly at Bethesda Hospital and in a nearby village. These camps are organized by Promise Child, a nonprofit child-sponsorship organization. The CBU team, along with the doctors and the Promise Child staff, saw an average of 200 patients a day.

“It was valuable to our students because they were able to rotate and spend time with the doctors. They were able to spend time with the pharmacy and laboratory staff; labs to patients who usually can’t afford those,” said Reed, who is also assistant professor of nutrition.

“Many of the patients walked long distances and waited for hours or even slept there the night before to be seen,” Ramirez said. “I remember this one patient saying that he couldn't believe we had come all the way from America just to care for him and the people of Uganda.”

Students learned alongside medical staff as Reed held continuing medical education classes at the hospital. It benefited students to understand how nutrition plays into the medical field.

The team partnered with the hospital along with Promise Child, a Christian nonprofit organization that aids underserved children around the world. Through this partnership, they also did a prison ministry after church on Sunday.

This proved to be one of the most impactful moments for the students and faculty.

They helped provide a new water filtration system for the prison, handed out sanitary pads and soap for the women, two students shared their testimonies and Reed gave a devotional. They also listened to the testimonies of the wards, who have all become believers since starting in the prison.

“As I walked into those gates, I was overwhelmed by nothing but joy, smiling, singing and dancing,” Ramirez said.

While there, a woman shared a testimony that Ramirez will never forget.

“She said, ‘I thank the prison guards for opening those gates and closing them on me. Without them, I wouldn’t have found the love of knowing Christ Jesus.’”

The team also learned to make cultural food at a school sponsored by Promise Child. Students cooked in big pots in the school’s kitchen and learned what goes into making their dishes, then ate with the school staff. 

Ramirez said that even though they were serving people on the trip, it felt like they were serving her. 

“What began as an opportunity to fulfill an academic requirement became an experience that I will take with me as I continue my career goals,” said Ramirez, who wants to become a physician assistant.