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A single sentence can change a life. For Blake Jones, it was a cold prediction at 16 that pushed him toward medicine with a vow to lead with skill and compassion. Years later, two service learning trips—first to Costa Rica, then Guatemala—turned that vow into a calling, as he learned to practice “medicine from a backpack,” partner with local physicians, and make focused decisions when resources run scarce. Those days in makeshift clinics didn’t just teach vitals and physical exams; they hardwired a mindset: do the most good with what you have, and never lose sight of the person in front of you.

From there, Blake layered in the discipline of research, the urgency of EMT training, and the realism of full-scale disaster simulations at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. The Health Professions Scholarship Program opened a path to serve as an Army physician, blending a taste for austere medicine with a deep commitment to patients who run toward danger. Now at a Level 1 trauma center within a military-civilian partnership, he’s steeped in high-acuity cases, tough rotations, and the kind of repetition that builds judgment fast. Along the way, he shares two cases that still anchor his why: an elderly patient with a palpable abdominal aortic aneurysm who needed swift escalation, and a woman who needed a $20 antibiotic that changed everything when a student reached into her pocket.

We get practical and personal: what service learning clinics actually look like, how to think about research that opens doors, why HPSP may fit a mission-driven student, and how to face burnout without losing your center. Blake’s message is clear and hard-earned: if you’re chasing money or status, medicine will drain you; if you’re here to make someone’s life better, it gives more than it takes. For students nervous about cost or comfort zones, we talk scholarships, mentors, and why saying yes can reshape your career—and your character.

Subscribe for more stories that connect global health, medical education, and real-world emergency care. If this conversation sparked something for you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and tell us the moment that shaped your path.

I also want to thank our listeners for joining us as it is our goal to not only share with you our guest’s introduction to international healthcare, but also to share with you how that exposure to international healthcare has shaped their future path in healthcare. As true patient advocates, we should all aspire to be as well rounded as possible in order to meet the needs of our diverse patient populations.

As a 45+ year nurse that has worked in quite a variety of clinical roles in our healthcare system, taught healthcare courses for the past 20 years at the university level, and has traveled extensively with my students on international service-learning trips, I can easily attest to the fact that healthcare focused students need, and greatly benefit from the opportunity to have hands-on experiential healthcare experiences in an international setting! I have seen the growth of students post travel as their self-confidence in their newly acquired skillsets, both clinical and cultural, facilitates their ability to take advantage of opportunities that previously may not have been available to them. By rendering care internationally, and stepping outside one's comfort zone, many more doors of opportunity will be opened.

Feel free to check out our website at www.islonline.org, follow us on Instagram @ islmedical, and reach out to me @ DrH@islonline.org

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What if the most powerful thing you bring to clinic isn’t a medication but a moment of calm and a clear explanation? That question runs through our conversation with Maddie Huff, a recent public health graduate and future physician whose path was forged in service—from repairing ramps in Appalachia to leading medical mission cohorts in rural Guatemala.

We unpack the early sparks that made service feel inevitable, then trace how COVID forced a reset that ultimately deepened focus. Maddie explains how joining a pre‑medical fraternity created mentorship and momentum, and how taking on trip leadership taught logistics, cultural humility, and the art of building trust. Inside clinic days, she walks through a simple, repeatable model—three students per patient, clear roles, case presentations to local physicians, and a pharmacy loop—that turns learning into care. Then we sit with the moment a patient named Sarah asked for her racing mind to stop, and how ten minutes of shared breath gave her a tool she could carry long after the team left.

Through a public health lens, we examine social determinants of health, access barriers, and why education may be the strongest medicine in low‑resource settings. Maddie contrasts a UTI treated in an afternoon in the U.S. with months‑long symptoms abroad caused by distance, lost wages, and limited clinics, and makes the case for prevention, self‑management, and local partnerships. We also get honest about emotion: nightly reflection circles, walls coming down, and why tears aren’t weakness—they’re evidence of connection and growth outside our comfort zones.

If you care about global health, medical education, or how service can shape a career with purpose, you’ll find practical insights and human stories here. Listen, reflect, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that dignity, education, and presence travel with us wherever we practice. If this resonated, follow the show, leave a quick review, and tell us the one small tool you think every clinic should teach.

I also want to thank our listeners for joining us as it is our goal to not only share with you our guest’s introduction to international healthcare, but also to share with you how that exposure to international healthcare has shaped their future path in healthcare. As true patient advocates, we should all aspire to be as well rounded as possible in order to meet the needs of our diverse patient populations.

As a 45+ year nurse that has worked in quite a variety of clinical roles in our healthcare system, taught healthcare courses for the past 20 years at the university level, and has traveled extensively with my students on international service-learning trips, I can easily attest to the fact that healthcare focused students need, and greatly benefit from the opportunity to have hands-on experiential healthcare experiences in an international setting! I have seen the growth of students post travel as their self-confidence in their newly acquired skillsets, both clinical and cultural, facilitates their ability to take advantage of opportunities that previously may not have been available to them. By rendering care internationally, and stepping outside one's comfort zone, many more doors of opportunity will be opened.

Feel free to check out our website at www.islonline.org, follow us on Instagram @ islmedical, and reach out to me @ DrH@islonline.org

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A rainy roadside in Costa Rica changed everything. Jonathan Birnbaum watched buses pause for photos and press on, while he and his family stepped out to help. That simple choice grew into International Service Learning, an education-first, healthcare-focused organization that partners with ministries of health and local teams to deliver ethical, hands-on experiences for students, faculty, and professionals.

We dig into how ISL built a model that puts community needs first and learning at the center. Jonathan explains why the organization shifted from general service to medical care, how faculty-led teams became the norm, and what it takes to credential nurses and clinicians so they can legally practice in-country and earn CEUs. You’ll hear the structure of a nine-day trip—from orientation to home visits, mobile clinics, community celebration, and cultural immersion—and the quiet systems that make it work: bilingual translators, vetted kitchens and hotels, and evacuation plans tuned by on-the-ground staff who know the neighborhoods, not just the news.

This conversation unpacks the heart of responsible global health. Instead of chasing big numbers, ISL chooses careful, supervised clinics that uncover root causes like indoor smoke, water safety, and sanitation. We talk scholarships, leader fee waivers, and why airfare is left to travelers so ISL can stay focused on education and safety. Jonathan also shares what’s next: rebuilding post-COVID capacity, expanding specialties, and deepening partnerships with universities and associations to create accessible, high-quality global health programs across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Ready to travel, serve, learn? Subscribe for more stories, share this episode with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Book Recommendation:

1. Where There Is No Doctor - Werner, Thuman, & Maxwell

I also want to thank our listeners for joining us as it is our goal to not only share with you our guest’s introduction to international healthcare, but also to share with you how that exposure to international healthcare has shaped their future path in healthcare. As true patient advocates, we should all aspire to be as well rounded as possible in order to meet the needs of our diverse patient populations.

As a 45+ year nurse that has worked in quite a variety of clinical roles in our healthcare system, taught healthcare courses for the past 20 years at the university level, and has traveled extensively with my students on international service-learning trips, I can easily attest to the fact that healthcare focused students need, and greatly benefit from the opportunity to have hands-on experiential healthcare experiences in an international setting! I have seen the growth of students post travel as their self-confidence in their newly acquired skillsets, both clinical and cultural, facilitates their ability to take advantage of opportunities that previously may not have been available to them. By rendering care internationally, and stepping outside one's comfort zone, many more doors of opportunity will be opened.

Feel free to check out our website at www.islonline.org, follow us on Instagram @ islmedical, and reach out to me @ DrH@islonline.org