Appreciation Note regarding New Generations Exchange

Rotary New Generation Exchange is a new program in Rotary designed for young professionals in age group of 18-30 years, which focuses on vocational and cultural experience. I, being a medical student, got to visit many clinics, hospitals and medical research institutes. I met doctors from various specialties and got an overview of the healthcare and medicine that is practiced in USA.

One thing that really stood out was the value of humanity that America places on a citizen. The doctor-patient interaction I got to witness added a whole new aspect to medicine which is taken for granted in India- the social one. I had a chance to visit the director of Transitional Care Program at Good Samaritan Hospital. his is a new program that identifies patients of chronic diseases like COPD, Sleep Apnea, Chronic heart diseases that are more likely to get readmitted within a few days of their discharge. This increases the healthcare costs and so, these patients are followed for 30 days after discharge, where a social worker visits their homes, evaluates their living conditions, mood and requirements, and sees to it that they are eligible for government subsidies and care groups in their society.

This is a relatively new program, and I am glad that I got to be a part of it. On the cultural side too, I was not limited in spite of all the vocational activities! I got to see 3 Professional level baseball games, the National Sport, and also a match of American College Football, the most popular sport! A friendly banter about baseball being better than cricket would always ensue after a game!

I also got to see some very interesting museums- Musical Instrument Museum, Heard Museum of Native American Culture, the Science Center, Phoenix Art Museum, Desert Caballeros Western Museum( more of cowboy culture). I also went on a boat ride on Canyon lake, a nice picnic spot in the summer months. A weekend trip to Prescott Valley, I got to meet other NGE students, which was fun. The Rotary Club there organizes an annual Hot Air Balloon Fest; and other New Generation Exchange students and I got to ride a hot air balloon! A camping trip to Grand Canyon for 2 days was the icing on the pie! It is an amazing place, and I got to hike it too!

I was struck by the enthusiasm the rotarians showed for hosting an NGE student- especially, the schedule that was organised, with activities that accounted for each day. I consider myself fortunate and lucky to be a part of this exchange. It is amazing how Rotary can arrange a program that combines such a vocational and cultural experience into one. Thank you for the experience!

 

Aniruddha Mundhada

8-21-2014 to 9-29-2014

Rotary NGE