Four medical students from Pennsylvania State University officially began their Global Health Scholars Pathway (GHSP) immersion today, June 30, at West Visayas State University (WVSU), marking the start of a collaborative international program aimed at strengthening global medical education and cross-cultural healthcare learning.
The visiting students—Madison Scopano, Jacob Berry, Eva Eleftheriadis, and Jaybee Diones—are accompanied by their faculty site lead, Dr. Jasmin Gange Lagman, Associate Professor at Penn State and an alumna of the WVSU College of Medicine.
The three-week immersion program, which runs from June 30 to July 19, 2025, commenced with a courtesy visit to Dr. Victor Amantillo, Dean of the WVSU College of Medicine, followed by a tour of the college. The group also paid a visit to WVSU President Dr. Joselito Villaruz, who welcomed them and expressed the university’s enthusiasm for this new chapter in global academic cooperation.
This visit is part of a larger partnership between Penn State and WVSU, established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year on January 1, 2025.
The program is designed to expose future medical professionals to diverse health systems, community-based practices, and health economics in a global setting.
Additionally, the program is coordinated by Dr. Eunice Sermonia and Dr. Charmaine Malata, who are overseeing the students’ university-related activities and ensuring a smooth and enriching academic and cultural experience.
The Global Health Scholars Pathway is a unique and innovative program that integrates global health education into the medical curriculum at Penn State. It provides students with two immersive international experiences: the first focused on community immersion and development of a health project, and the second, in the students’ senior year, dedicated to clinical engagement in the same setting.
By choosing the Philippines—specifically WVSU—as one of the program’s international sites, this initiative not only fosters academic and cultural exchange but also reflects the growing global partnerships that shape the future of medical education.
This visit is just the beginning of a promising long-term collaboration between WVSU and Penn State, with future cohorts of medical scholars expected to follow.
By Gladwyn B. Gustilo/ILLO
