Above all else, Braeden Cooper ’26 learned how to adapt during his three-week internship in Peru.
The rising junior with a Spanish major and chemistry minor hoped to improve his language skills and immerse himself in public health by working with the Wabash College Global Health Initiative’s (GHI) partners in Peru.
Through collaborations in university settings and local health organizations, Cooper, one of two GHI-Peru interns this summer, saw the realities of the Peruvian healthcare system and interacted with people working both on the frontlines with those in need to others in laboratories searching for cures for dengue and malaria.
As someone interested in a career in medicine, Cooper received just what he hoped for.
“I learned critical differences between the Peruvian and American health systems,” he said. “I was particularly excited to work with Creciendo Juntos because I dream of being a pediatrician. Working with kids to improve their lives and leadership skills and possibly establish future leaders in communities that need them was meaningful to me.”
GHI-Peru is a platform of educational service and intervention for Wabash students, national and foreign collaborators, and volunteers to work together with community health promotion and improve the quality of life of vulnerable communities.
These programs have flourished through the more than 13 years GHI Director Eric Wetzel has worked with Peruvian partners. Creciendo Juntos (“Growing Together”), one of three GHI-Peru offerings, focuses on improving primary health skills for children aged 6-13, like creating a healthy plate, proper waste management, and strong dental hygiene habits. Vida Sana (“Healthy Living”) provides scientific and health education to mothers in the Pamplona Alta region in Lima, while Corazones Excepcionales (“Exceptional Hearts”) works to aid individuals with Down syndrome through reading, writing, pronunciation, and more.
Cooper also worked and collaborated at three universities (Ricardo Palma University, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizan, and Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva) where he participated in cultural exchanges, received laboratory experience, and worked with a scientist attempting to create a probiotic using a waste product from the production of fermented beverages.
“The university settings allowed for more hands-on work,” he explained, “but seeing how the different health centers functioned allowed me to see the reality of the health system in Peru—everything from the lack of healthcare staff to the struggles with the national health system and insurance. I heard the concerns of people who had to deal with the struggles both as a caregiver and patient, which was really impactful.”
The experience has drastically changed how Cooper understands health systems. Seeing the struggles that exist for many—a lack of insurance coverage, access to care, and the scarcity of basic necessities like clean water or available food sources —has changed his understanding of what healthcare is or should be.
“It was a very eye-opening experience to see the reality of healthcare in Peru,” Cooper said. “This experience drastically changed how I understand health systems both inside and outside of the U.S. I became aware of the real struggles that exist, even with nationwide insurance, like access to and the cost of care, as well as wait times to see doctors. This is not a problem unique to Peru. This is a worldwide issue.”
As his understanding of healthcare in Peru improved, so did his fluency in Spanish. He was prepared for the challenge of immersing himself in a second language, and early on battled feelings of incompetence when struggling to find the right word or phrase to convey a thought. Those thoughts quickly dissipated after a few days. He just needed the confidence to engage.
“Both my Spanish comprehension and speaking improved drastically during my internship,” he said. “As a non-native speaker, there were phrases and idioms I had never heard before, but understanding the message was more critical than understanding every word. My vocabulary and fluidity with the language made me comfortable in conversation in less than a week.”
The internship has reinforced Cooper’s goal to attend medical school following graduation and he knows the 
cultural understanding gained this summer may fit well on a medical school application. Perhaps more importantly, it’s provided a tangible example of a role model.
“This internship has strengthened my desire to continue down the path of medicine and, more specifically, to use the education I receive to aid others abroad,” he said. “The Wabash GHI, locally and in Peru, is a great place to start. It motivated me to expand the reach of the work necessary to make a change. It allowed me to connect and meet people who are doing good, impactful work in Peru, and making a difference in people’s lives around them, which is something I strive to do. I will use them as role models to make life better for those around me in my own environment.”