Binghamton University student’s proposal for international student health workshop wins Road Map funding

Inijesu Taiwo, MD, wants to help Binghamton University’s 1,800+ international students get the information they need to navigate the U.S. healthcare system more effectively, enhancing their health and well-being and improving their integration on campus and in the community.

To accomplish this, Dr. Taiwo, who is graduating next month with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, submitted a proposal to Binghamton University’s Road Map Strategic Plan to create a healthcare information and resources workshop.

“Crossing Borders: A Health Literacy Journey for International Students” supports Binghamton’s Strategic Priority 6 (internationalization) and is one of only four student-submitted proposals chosen in April 2024 to receive Road Map funding. Six faculty/staff submissions were also funded out of 124 total submissions.

Dr. Taiwo knows firsthand how challenging America’s healthcare system can be for international students; she’s one herself. She came to the U.S. almost two years ago to enter Binghamton’s two-year MPH program. Born in Nigeria, Taiwo holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Nigeria’s Babcock University and a doctor of medicine (MD) from Windsor University School of Medicine in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

“I chose to pursue an MPH at Binghamton University because I’m a medical doctor passionate about research and global health,” Dr. Taiwo said. “I want to make a difference on a larger scale, impacting populations rather than individuals. Binghamton University offered the perfect blend of opportunities to delve into research and contribute to global health initiatives, aligning perfectly with my career aspirations.”

BingUNews sat down with Dr. Taiwo to learn more about her winning proposal.

How did you come up with the topic for your proposal?

I brainstormed topics for my capstone project and decided to research the awareness and utilization of health services among Binghamton University students. Being an international student myself, I realized I wasn’t aware of many services available, and I wanted to explore whether this was common among the student population.

Through conversations with other international students and my research, I discovered this lack of awareness was widespread. This led me to the idea of creating a workshop to educate this student population about the available health services on and off campus, as well as how to navigate the U.S. healthcare system.

How does the topic fit in with your interest in public health?

Health and healthcare literacy is one of my research interests; it fits perfectly into that.

How great is the need for this type of program for international students?

The need for a health literacy workshop for international students is underscored by literature highlighting their limited awareness of available healthcare services, language barriers affecting their understanding of health information and cultural differences influencing their healthcare-seeking behaviors. My capstone research further validates this need, revealing widespread gaps in knowledge and utilization of health services among international students at Binghamton University, emphasizing the importance of targeted educational interventions to improve their healthcare access and outcomes.

What was your reaction to learning your proposal won Road Map funding?

I was really happy and excited, but I was also surprised. It was the first grant I ever submitted to a reviewing body, and it was amazing to see that what I learned in class prepared me to write one.

You’ll be graduating in May, so how will the health literacy program advance if you won’t be here?

I will work with Kimberly Peabody, director of the B-Healthy: Healthy Campus Initiative, to design the workshop and make all the necessary connections needed to ensure the project is implemented.

What is the timeline for the project?

The plan is to debut the Health Literacy Workshop in September, with intentions to host it every fall after that.

What do you hope students participating in the workshop get out of it?

I hope the students will understand more about the U.S. healthcare system and that they will be encouraged and more confident to utilize all the available services on and off campus when needed.

What are your plans after you graduate?

I am searching for research positions and considering getting a PhD in medical anthropology.