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Professional Internship Program – extensive internship exchanges between professionals in Dubna and La Crosse
Goal: To foster leadership development and advanced education for professionals of developing countries.
Major achievements: Through the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT), La Crosse has hosted 19 interns from developing countries. Professionals have studied Western practices in various areas including health care and human service administration, substance abuse program management, cardiology, fertility specialty, emergency medicine, private practice dentistry, health care finance, and domestic violence program development and municipal government. Significant achievements include:
- Development of a multi-disciplinary team approach to health care administration in Dubna, Russia
- Creation of a domestic violence prevention team in Dubna
- Opening of a private practice dentist office in the City of Dubna
- Creation of a Central Ambulance Center for handling emergency cases in Dubna
- Creation of an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment and crisis center in Dubna
- Dissemination conference for 150 individuals from throughout the Russian Federation in the area of Substance Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention (September, 1998)
- Expansion of a Women’s Fertility Clinic in Moscow, Russia
- Development of a Domestic Violence Program in Russia
- Implementation of a major international conference to enhance leadership skills for people throughout Russia.
- Development of a Family Medicine Program in Ukraine
Impact: The impact on global health as a result of the three-month internships may not be realized for decades. It is a change in attitude, an observation of cooperation, teambuilding, and a humane way of treating others that is gained from our partnering with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Additional highlights: The health professional internships were supported though the U.S. Department of Commerce and included airfare and living expenses for interns. The La Crosse community provided housing, meals, local transportation and professional training for the interns.
Funding: Each intern was funded via a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce – Special American Business Internship Training Program for approximately $10,000 for a total of $190,000 for 19 interns. Other support for the project was locally provided.