Last summer, in the mountains of Nepal, thousands of miles away from Provo, BYU student Leilani Harmuth knew her global health internship was not just a fun vacation.
“And this isn’t just a regular study abroad.”
While in Nepal, the BYU group of public health students contributed to the Safe Motherhood program. This non-government-funded initiative aims to bridge the gap for mothers and children living in remote villages, far from medical facilities. “Imagine being hours away from the nearest hospital,” Harmuth said. “These families face immense challenges during childbirth.”
The Safe Motherhood program provides critical support. It covers transportation costs, ensuring that expectant mothers can reach the hospital safely. Community health nurses visit these villages regularly, offering guidance and care. “We’re talking about rugged terrain,” Harmuth emphasized. “Sometimes, a simple trip to the hospital becomes an epic journey.”
Okay, this isn't a vacation.
As a public health student, Harmuth knows that better health has ripple effects in one person’s life. “I think that being a healthy individual makes one more likely or more equipped to be productive in their work and educational pursuits,” she said. “By providing access to healthcare, people can maintain good health, attend school or work regularly, and contribute actively to their communities.” According to Harmuth, access to quality healthcare is the beginning of “preserving financial stability and reducing the risk of falling into poverty.”
While Harmuth set out to improve healthcare outcomes in Nepal, she discovered that she was changed by the experience, too. “My experience in Nepal has been instrumental in my growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ," Harmuth said. “Because we believe we're all children of God, it was so easy to serve these people we had never met before. No matter their culture, beliefs or language, we saw them as our brothers and sisters.”
The students also taught women's health through an interpreter to 14- to 16-year-old girls.
“That internship was the pinnacle of my public health education.”
But that opportunity could have easily passed her by.
Growing up, Harmuth had two maternal examples of serving others through healthcare. Her grandmother, who grew up in the Philippines (all four of her grandparents are from the Philippines, Estonia or Russia), trained to be a doctor. Similarly, Harmuth’s mother became a dietician.
Harmuth knew she wanted to work in the healthcare industry and thought nursing was the right path. After a year and a half at BYU, Harmuth applied for the nursing program, the one major she really wanted to study.
Surprisingly to her, she didn’t get accepted. “And my whole world was turned upside down.”
After getting rejected by the nursing program, Harmuth took other introductory classes and found public health. She knew pretty quickly that this was where she was supposed to be.
“I’m really passionate about public health because it’s all about community building and serving others,” said Harmuth who served a mission in the Philippines for six months before the COVID-19 pandemic moved her to Washington state for the remainder of her service. “I’ve learned that if you’re not serving, you’re only hurting yourself.”
She acknowledged that being a student at BYU is a challenge because all of the other students are very successful, too.
“My advice is to think about BYU as an opportunity, rather than just school or grades,” Harmuth said. “For the longest time, grades were always on my mind. And the more I thought about them, the more I got disappointed in myself because there was always someone doing better than me. I think that once you see college as an opportunity, you start to be more in tune with talking to people, like, 'What professors can I get acquainted with? Where can I go for networking opportunities? Where can I help build my resume? What are off-campus opportunities I can participate in?'”
Harmuth recognizes she wouldn’t be where she is today without that shift of perspective.
As she prepares to graduate, Harmuth acknowledged that her experience at BYU and in Nepal has given her a desire to build a covenant community with all of God’s children around her, no matter the location. “I feel that discipleship to Jesus Christ means connecting with the people around us — meaning building and fostering bridges of connection so that all of us may feel God's love.”
