Riverside, Calif. (July 13, 2016) – Two teams from the College of Health Science at California Baptist University spent three weeks serving communities in China and the Philippines in various healthcare roles. 

The trips were part of the Global Health Engagement (GHE) program, which provides students an opportunity to serve in a global healthcare setting while gaining course credit.

"The purpose is to teach the students how their personal and spiritual gifts line up so that they can live their purpose in the world and in the kingdom of God," said Erik Salley, assistant professor of exercise science and coordinator of GHE.

A team of 12, including nine students, went to the Philippines (June 3 – 24). The team broke up into three groups and each rotated among various health centers, including the Philippine Heart Center, a remote health clinic and a community-based rehab clinic for children with disabilities. The students observed medical professionals and helped staff with physical therapy, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy and athletic training.

Another team of two faculty and five students went to China (May 26 – June 15). This team worked with children with autism and trained teachers, parents and college students how to respond to their specific needs. The team also attended to children who were cancer survivors.  

"God opened up so many opportunities for the students to work with children with autism, to use the skills and abilities I don't even think they knew they had," said Maggie Appenzeller, visiting professor of communication disorder and a member of the China team. "[The team taught] the kids to play again and to have joy (in the process)."