Spring 2012 honors seminar with study tour to South Africa!
Check out this blog created by one of the student participants, Julia Tasset!

Video about the study tour made by student Cheshire Hardcastle.

South Africa Seminar & Study Tour Flyer (PDF)

This course will provide students with hands-on, real word exposure to public health and infectious disease research in South Africa. The focus will be on HIV/AIDS.

There is growing interest among students in understanding how infectious diseases impact public health.  HIV/AIDS is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; however, students have little experience with public health infrastructures outside of the US.  Moreover, students have limited knowledge of the challenges inherent to responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in resource-limited settings.

Students will be encouraged to think globally during in-class discussions focusing on the themes of HIV prevention/education, diagnosis, treatment, and social/ethical issues.  The primary example for these discussions will utilize South Africa, thus emphasizing the global public health impact of HIV/AIDS. Additional out-of-class trips may also be incorporated, possibly including visits to the UC Infectious Diseases Clinic, the County Tuberculosis Control Clinic, and an area NGO working on HIV prevention/education.

Immediately following spring quarter, the class will engage in a required study tour to South Africa. The group will depart during finals week.

Study Tour Itinerary
Travel dates are expected to be June 5* - 19, 2012.

Tuesday 5-Jun   

1100:  Meet at CVG for 1435 departure to DC

Wednesday 6-Jun

1635 arrival in Johannesburg

Thursday 7-Jun   

All day:  Topsy Foundation - introductory talks and tour; visit local community

Friday   8-Jun      

0900-1000:  Introduction to University of Limpopo medical campus                      

1000-1200:  Visit to Tshephang Clinic and George Mukhari Hospital

1200-1300:  Lunch with honors and graduate students

1300-1500:  Tour of campus

Dinner around University campus or Hatfield

Saturday 9-Jun  

All day:  Walking tour of Pretoria

PM:  Course photo at Union Buildings

Dinner around University campus or Hatfield

Sunday 10-Jun  

AM:  Visit flea market at Hatfield Square

2050 departure to Durban; 2150 arrival

Monday 11-Jun  

1000-1115:  CAPRISA overview at UKZN

1130:  Durban city tour

Tuesday 12-Jun 

0900:  Welcome to Department of Medicine at King Edward VII Hospital

0930-1130:  Ward rounds

1130-1230:  Discussion and tour

1230~1330:  Lunch at Department of Medicine

1330-1600:  Discussion & questions

Wednesday 13-Jun

1100:  Tour of HIV Pathogenesis Program research labs at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

1230:  Lunch with graduate students at UKZN / research talks

PM:  Outing to Africa Art Centre

Thursday 14-Jun   

0800-1330: CAPRISA Vlulindlela (rural HIV clinic)

Friday 15-Jun       

Travel to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game park (Mpila camp)

Optional evening game drive

Saturday 16-Jun  

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi  game park (Mpila camp)

Optional morning & evening game drives

Sunday 17-Jun     

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi  game park or nearby St. Lucia Wetlands Park (Mpila camp)

Optional morning & evening game drives

Monday 18-Jun 

AM travel back to Durba  1850 departure to JNB and onward

Tuesday 19-Jun 

1355 arrival back in CVG

*Note that the group will depart on the Tuesday of finals week. It is each student's individual responsibility to contact their instructors as early as possible to find out if it will be possible to make alternate arrangements for any final exams or projects that are scheduled between June 5 - 9.

In collaboration with the University of Limpopo (Pretoria, South Africa), the tentative itinerary includes visits to the University’s HIV clinic and affiliated hospital, as well as the Department of Virology research laboratories.  In collaborator with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban, South Africa), the tentative itinerary includes visits to an urban HIV clinic, a rural HIV clinic, a tuberculosis control clinic, HIV research laboratories at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, and non-governmental organizations in Durban working on HIV prevention and education at the community level.  Additional cultural trips in the greater Durban area will be included when possible and may include the KwaMuhle and Phanzi Museums, the African Art Center, the breachfront/promenade, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Park, and/or Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park.

In Pretoria, we will visit the Topsy Foundation – http://www.topsy.org.za/. The mission of the Topsy Foundation is prevent and treat HIV infection through a number of related projects, including the Topsy Comprehensive HIV Care Clinic, voluntary counseling and testing service, psychosocial support for families affected by HIV, empowerment through skills training, influencing youth behavior through life skills sessions, and rising awareness of HIV in isolated communities.

In Durban, South Africa, we collaborate closely with the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa – http://www.caprisa.org/SitePages/Home.aspx.  The main goal of CAPRISA is to undertake globally relevant and locally responsive research that contributes to understanding HIV pathogenesis, prevention and epidemiology as well as the links between tuberculosis and AIDS care.

Accomodations
While in Pretoria, the group will stay in the Thats It Guesthouse.

While in Durban, the group will stay at the Glenmore Pastoral Centre.

Application
Application required. Application deadline is December 1, 2011 (students are encouraged to apply earlier though!).

University Honors students must be in good standing with the UHP to participate.

UC undergraduates who are not in the University Honors Program are welcome to apply, provided the student has a cumulative university GPA of 3.4 or above. Graduate students are not eligible to enroll. Priority is given to University Honors students, but we are often able to offer spaces to other students as well. A waiting list will be maintained.

Estimated Cost - Updated
Estimated costs for this course/study tour:
~$1900-$2200 for airfare (Cincinnati to South Africa)
~$1800 for land package and programmatic costs (detailed below)
These costs could change and will be updated again this fall.

University Honors will provide each student with a $1000 grant to offset costs (including student participants who are not in University Honors). This grant acts as a program discount. Expected costs will be updated as final travel plans are made and are highly contingent upon airfare. Participants who are not in University Honors will receive the $1000 honors grant.

Costs will include airfare, ground transportation in South Africa, accommodations, tours, some meals, and a program fee (which covers faculty costs, program supplies, lecturers, and other on-the-ground expenses).

Costs do not include baggage fees, immunizations, passport, ISIC card, insurance (travel/medical), some meals (at airports and some other meals) or other personal expenses.

Students are required to purchase an ISIC (International Student Identity Card) from UC International for $22. This is not included in the total expected cost.

Participants can apply for grants from UC International.  

Vaccinations and Health Precautions
Contact your physician to ask about what vaccinations and heath precautions (like taking antibiotics with you) are recommended. Also look at the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) webpage on South Africa.

Questions?
Contact Dr. Jason Blackard (jason.blackard@uc.edu) or Debbie Brawn (debbie.brawn@uc.edu).

Dr. Blackard is the faculty director for this course and study tour. Dr. Blackard is a professor in the Division of Digestive Diseases at UC's College of Medicine. In 2007, he was a visiting professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa. Dr. Blackard completed his PhD at Harvard University and has a BS from the University of Arkansas.