Fall Break in Cuba:
Community Health, Arts & Environment
This program is a hybrid online and intensive in-person undergraduate (T380) and graduate (T580) course that seeks to integrate global health concepts using a case study approach focused upon Cuba while examining the impact of culture, arts, community health, and the environment, within the context of ethics, place, and politics. As part of the goal of integrating learning across disciplinary and methodological public health domains, the course will explore the historical context and development of Cuba’s public health system, ethical considerations in global health practice, and health indicators and health systems’ challenges.
Course activities will challenge participants to consider the many inter-related issues that are typical of global health development, and to see firsthand the perspectives of different actors in relation to the challenges that arise in ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality public health interventions and care.
Course participants will improve their understanding and grasp of core global health competencies and ideas by:
1. Analyzing the roles, relationships, and resources of the entities influencing global health
2. Applying ethical approaches in global health practice
3. Proposing sustainable and evidence-based multi-sectoral interventions, considering the social determinants of health specific to the local area
4. Displaying critical self-reflection, cultural humility, and ongoing learning in global health
Credit/Registration: All students will be registered for 3 credits as part of their fall term course load: CHP T580 / PBHL T380 / CATX T-480, Community Health, Arts and Environment in Cuba, 3 credits. Undergraduate students must leave space for the 3 credits in their fall term credit load or will have to pay for exceeding the 20-credit maximum.
Once you have opened an application, please contact Dr. Kristal Brown to schedule your faculty interview, which is part of the application process.
Instructor
Kristal Brown, Assistant Professor, Dornsife School of Public Health
Arrival Date: September 8th, 2026
Departure Date: September 18th, 2026
Tentative Itinerary & Themes
DAY 1: Wednesday, September 8
Arrive in Cuba
Exchange Currency
Welcome Dinner
DAY 2: Thursday, September 9
Cuba and Its National Context
History, roots, and traditions
The African diaspora and sociocultural policies
Art as justice and revolutionary acts
DAY 3: Friday, September 10
Education and Health
Cuba's healthcare system
Studying medicine in Cuba
Community health promotion projects
DAY 4: Saturday, September 11
Healthy Communities
The community doctor model (Consultorio)
Primary healthcare
Community participation
DAY 5: Sunday, September 12
Healthy Aging
Physical activity throughout the life course
Afro Cuban and traditional healing practices
Integrated health approaches for rehabilitation
DAY 6: Monday, September 13
Older Adult Comprehensive Health
Community center for Seniors (casa de Abuelos)
“Circulo de Abuelos” and senior socializing
Older adult community programming
DAY 7: Tuesday, September 14
LGBTQIA+ Advocacy and Sexual Health
Sexual health and education strategies
Inclusion and access
Counteraction of stigma and violence
DAY 8: Wednesday, September 15
Maternal and Infant Health
The specialized resource center
Comprehensive approaches to care
Community participation
Reproductive health strategies
DAY 9: Thursday, September 16
Health Communication
Norms and language training
Children's Theme Park “Amanecer Feliz”
Sight-impaired community integration
DAY 10: Friday, September 17
Environmental Health, Urban WASH
Melaponis bee production for healing
Castillo del Jagua Community Project
DAY 11: Saturday, September 18
Closing Activities
Departures
Due May 1st - $500 Advance Payment + $25 Application Fee
Due July 1st - $2,645 Final Payment
*All payments are non-refundable unless declined admission.
Included in Program Fee:
- Accommodation in private homestays
- Breakfast and lunch daily + 2 dinners
- Entry fees to all cultural, historic, and health site visits on itinerary
- Local translator for program activities
- Cuban Entry Visa
- Airport transfer in Cuba
- Local transportation for all program activities
- On Call Emergency Assistance & Health Insurance
Not Included in Program Fee (estimates):
- Normal tuition (per credit tuition applies for graduate students)
- Round trip airfare Philadelphia to Havana $600
- Passport $165
- Spending money $250
- Meals not included $120
- PHL airport transfer $40
- Luggage fees
- Laundry
ICA Financial Aid: Students may request an Adjusted Cost of Attendance by submitting the ICA program fee and estimated out of pocket expenses listed above to Drexel Central (via askdrexel). Doing so could make students’ eligible for additional financial aid. Students may also be eligible to apply for Drexel's
ICA Scholarships.
The Drexel University Community Health and Environment (CHE) Immersion Program in Cuba from Drexel University Global Health on Vimeo.
