India, Thailand, DR, Ghana: Oh My!

Hi everyone! 

I am so excited and grateful to announce that I have been selected to serve as Wofford's Presidential International Scholar for 2025-2026. This scholarship provides me with funds to conduct research in developing countries over an extended period of time. For those of you who may not know, I have wanted to become a neonatologist since I was four. Through my experiences in Haiti as we completed the adoption process of my sister, I began to develop a passion for medical missions which has now expanded into a life goal. I knew I wanted my research to reflect these passions and allow me to both share what I learn abroad as well as to compare that to the experience in South Carolina. 

My research project is entitled "Healing Practices: Cultural and Medical Influences on Premature and Special Needs Births Across Four Nations" and Dr. Laura Barbas Rhoden will so graciously serve as my research support advisor. The research will focus primarily on the impacts of traditional medicine, culture, and access to healthcare on birth outcomes for preterm and special needs infants in India, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, and Ghana. 

“So, when does this all begin?”, you may ask. Well, that is a great question. Let me show you!

June: Takeoff to India!

July: Thailand

August: Dominican Republic

December: Ghana

January: Return home! 

That’s right- 8 months!!

I am currently still working on the details for each location but I will share those with you at the beginning of each new country! This blog site will be your hub for major updates and stories that are too long to share on Instagram. You can expect a post here weekly (hopefully) recapping and reflecting what I have learned and the people I have met. And that leads me to another way to follow along! My Instagram account @margeauxonthemove (which can be found on the blog home page) will be the best place for you to be transported into the new cultures I will experience. There, I will do daily posts every once in a while, archive photos, as well as post on my story. You may even catch a few “Day in My Life in…” videos! Please feel free to share the link to this blog with anyone who may enjoy reading it.

I love being able to share my experiences abroad almost as much as I enjoy the travel itself!  I encourage you all to ask questions through DM, comments, or emails and I will be sure to answer so that we can all learn together. I hope this journey inspires you to learn more about the world, embrace different cultures, and understand the importance of healthcare access for all, especially for those who are the most vulnerable. Thank you for being part of this adventure with me. 

Here’s to the road ahead, the stories yet to be told, and the lives waiting to be touched. Onward!

Margeaux