Elena Bauer

Madagascar, Summer 2023 

Royal Thimphu College, Thimphu, Bhutan, Spring 2024 

While at UMass, I have had the opportunity to study abroad in two incredibly unique and beautiful countries. I participated in a summer study abroad program in Madagascar which focused on traditional medicine and healthcare systems. Over the course of six weeks, I traveled to various parts of the country learning about herbal medicine, spiritual healers, traditional birth attendants, allopathic hospitals, and the Malagasy language and culture. I experienced the immense biodiversity of the country, including seeing lemurs and baobab trees. During my semester-long studies in the remote Himalayan country of Bhutan, I took environmental science and anthropology courses. Bhutan is known for its promotion of “Gross National Happiness”, for being a carbon-negative country, and for having the only capital city without traffic lights. I visited countless monasteries, hiked up to 15,000 feet elevation, met the Prime Minister, and ate some of the spiciest chilies on earth!  

For my Honors Thesis, I intend to research and write about the overlap of culture, the environment, healing, and the human body through the lens of traditional medicine. After graduating, I hope to pursue a Fulbright English-Teaching assistantship in Madagascar. Following the potential Fulbright award, I will apply for medical school. I plan to continue learning about human physiology, biological anthropology, and global health. By maintaining an interdisciplinary approach to health and culture, I hope to practice medicine as well as conduct research worldwide.