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Global Seminars
India Gate New Delhi

Community-based Global Health in India

Program Quick Facts

  • Location: New Delhi, India
  • Faculty Leaders: Dr. Rita Popat
  • Arrival Date: July 4, 2026
  • Departure Date: July 26, 2026
  • Program Cost:
    • Stanford Tuition (3 units): $4,515
    • BOSP Program Fee: $500
    • Students with demonstrated financial need may be eligible for financial assistance (see financial assistance for more information)
  • Academic Prerequisites: Interest in medicine, global, or community health, or social determinants of health. Prior coursework in global health or epidemiology or experience in community health is preferred but not required. Enrollment in a 1-unit spring quarter course (title TBD) is highly recommended. Students participating in the program should be curious, engaged, open-minded, bring cultural humility, respectful and professional in all interactions, resilient, and flexible.
  • Activity Level: Light/Moderate: Activities may include city walking tours, easy/short hikes, museum and other site visits, and an occasional physical activity such as snorkeling, hiking, or kayaking.
  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Information for Travelers to India
  • US State Department Country Information: India
  • Visa Information: Coming Soon

General Description

This seminar offers an exploration of how epidemiology shapes community-based health interventions, particularly within the context of India. Students will analyze the disease burden and associated risk factors while evaluating public health strategies that address these challenges at the community level. Partnering with Child Family Health International (CFHI), participants will collaborate with healthcare providers in Northern India, gaining firsthand insights into significant health issues, including infectious and non-communicable diseases. Through a combination of interactive lectures, field visits, and case studies, students will learn how effective community health programs play a crucial role in disease prevention.

Learning Goals

​​By the end of the seminar, students will:

  1. Understand the epidemiological landscape of Northern India,
  2. Analyze social, cultural, and environmental determinants of health,
  3. Evaluate healthcare delivery and public health interventions, and
  4. Engage ethically in community health programs.

Prerequisites & Expectation

Interest in medicine, global, or community health, or social determinants of health. Prior coursework in global health or epidemiology or experience in community health is preferred but not required. Enrollment in a 1-unit spring quarter course (title TBD) is highly recommended. Students participating in the program should be curious, engaged, open-minded, bring cultural humility, respectful and professional in all interactions, resilient, and flexible.

Location

Northern India (Dehradun and rural Himalayas), the proposed location for this seminar, presents a unique setting to explore the intersection of epidemiology and community health. The region’s diverse healthcare landscape—ranging from remote villages to modern hospitals—offers students firsthand exposure to challenges in rural health access, disease control (communicable and non-communicable), and maternal and child health. By engaging with local NGOs (e.g., CFHI) and healthcare providers, students will examine how social determinants, environmental factors, and traditional medicine shape health outcomes. This immersive experience will provide a critical perspective on implementing public health interventions in resource-limited settings.

Living and Travel Conditions

Coming Soon

Faculty

Dr. Rita Popat

Dr. Popat has graduate degrees in physical therapy (MS), biostatistics (MS), and epidemiology (PhD). As a Stanford educator since 2003, she has taught and mentored graduate students, medical students, and undergraduates in epidemiology and clinical research. Having lived in New Delhi for six years, she is familiar with Northern India. In 2019, Dr. Popat participated in a 3-week Medical Anthropology camp with Himalayan Health Exchange (program that offers global health experience to medical students in remote Himalayan regions).

Grading Basis

Letter Grade