Hafa Adai! In
the native Chamorro language of Guam and the
islands of the Northern Marianas, I welcome you
to what will be an unforgettable educational
experience. The opportunity to bridge classroom
learning with real-life experience is invaluable
– it bridges gaps between theory and actuality,
knowledge and action, and perception and
reality. Over the course of twenty days,
students will have the opportunity to examine
the fight against HIV/AIDS as they never have
before – from elements of virology and
epidemiology to prevention, testing, and health
care provision. Focus will also be given to
issues of government funding and resource
allocation, and the inherent role of culture in
addressing the growing HIV/AIDS prevention needs
of Guam.
The learning
experience will be facilitated by Dr. Todd
Sabato, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences
at James Madison University. Dr. Sabato has an
extensive background in HIV/AIDS prevention
education, having collaborated with entities
such as the United States Department of Health
Resources and Services Administration, the South
Carolina Department of Health a
nd
Environmental Control, and the South Carolina
AIDS Training Network. Experiential learning
opportunities will also be facilitated by
representatives of the Guam Department of Public
Health and Social Services, the Guam HIV
AIDS Network (GUAHAN) Project, and faculty of
the University of Guam.
At this time, I
invite you to tour the site, and learn about the
many subtleties of Guam, where America’s day
begins...
Check out
photos from Dr. Sabato's 2007 trip to Guam!
