SOMOS students field research

Students collect data through systematic field observation and ethnographic interviews in order to understand the community, its resources, and its health care needs. They learn about community research, methods of field research, and a model of community building in seminars that are tailored to the specific needs and development of the projects.

Student Organization for Medical Outreach and Sustainability (SOMOS) works in Paraiso, Dominican Republic. Begun as the William and Mary Medical Mission Corps in the Spring of 2004, the project conducts an annual medical clinic and conducts ethnographic research to understand the health care needs of the community and to form a foundation for partnering with the community to implement sustainable and long-term solutions.