International Service Learning: Experiential Education

The intent of this podcast is to "share the voices of international service" by "hearing" from those that have stepped out of their comfort zones to make a difference internationally, while also dealing with the issues and challenges of such endeavors. Guests will include those that have participated in international service-learning trips; whether it be medical, faith-based, community engagement, disaster relief, education, etc.

Additionally, we will have guests that are industry leaders and professionals in healthcare, education, study abroad, spirituality, policy, and service as well as those living in the countries being served. By enabling the "voices of international service" to be "heard" we hope to motivate and inspire others to consider participating in an international service-learning trip ... and by doing so make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

I am Dr. Patrick Hickey (aka Dr. H as my students refer to me) and it is my honor to be the host of this podcast. I have done 20+ years of international service in a variety of roles. Most recently, as a university professor, I have taken many cohorts of healthcare focused students to developing countries to render healthcare as needed, and by doing so we made a huge difference in the lives of those in need. While rendering healthcare we often collaborated with other cohorts of non-medical groups also providing service; together we worked towards common goals of providing much needed care. Post trip I have seen the pictures and/or videos posted on social media by my students and those in other cohorts, and while they do a great job of showing our activities, I always felt that there was something missing ... the voices of those providing the service.

In November 2025 I started the podcast (International Service Learning: Experiential Education) in order to "share the voices of international service".

Podcasting since 2025 • 41 episodes

International Service Learning: Experiential Education

Latest Episodes

Saving Lives in Garbage Dump Communities Worldwide

A garbage dump is not just a place where trash ends up. In many developing nations, it becomes a workplace, a food source, and the center of a community where families sort plastics and metal beside medical waste just to survive. That’s the wor...

September 14, 2026 • 44:50

Why Global Health Keeps Failing And How To Fix It

The next pandemic problem is already here, and it is not just a virus. It is a system that fractures on impact. When a crisis hits, we send waves of institutions, NGOs, universities, and volunteers into the same space, often without shared situ...

September 07, 2026 • 56:56

Advancing Women's Health Internationally

Serving abroad sounds inspiring, until you hit the real-life barriers: limited money, limited time, and the fear that you cannot help without speaking the language. Dr. Patrick Hickey sits down with Nancy, a University of South Carolina public ...

August 31, 2026 • 33:26

The Value Of Getting Ouside Your Comfort Zone: Lessons Learned Abroad

You can learn a lot about medicine from textbooks, but you learn something different when you have to earn trust in a place where healthcare is hard to reach. We sit down with Rachel, a newly graduated pre-med student headed to medical school, ...

August 24, 2026 • 37:24

International Disaster Relief: A Rotarian's Efforts To Make A Difference

You can have the biggest heart in the world and still fail in disaster relief if you ignore the people who know the community best. That’s why Larry's approach hits so hard. Larry is a US Army veteran, a Rotarian, a longtime financial advisor, ...

August 17, 2026 • 51:12