Lumos experience gives alumna new perspective on global healthcare, cultural humility, compassionate service
As a Lumos Travel Award recipient, alumna Annie Wardroup (biology, ‘25) discovered resilience, community and a renewed sense of purpose while being immersed in an international healthcare experience.
"During my time at Belmont, I developed a deep interest in international medicine and public health," Wardroup said during her Lumos presentation back on campus this past spring. "I wanted to spend time learning about healthcare disparities outside the United States and see firsthand how communities address those challenges."
Volunteer experiences with Siloam Health in Nashville and her study abroad opportunity through the Global Honors Program sparked Wardroup’s interest in healthcare access and international engagement, ultimately leading her to apply for the Lumos Travel Award and spend six months in Nairobi, Kenya.
Beyond the Classroom
In Nairobi, she worked with UCESCO Africa, a community-based humanitarian organization operating in Kibera, the largest urban informal settlement on the African continent. UCESCO is led by individuals who live in the communities they serve, giving them firsthand knowledge of local needs and challenges.
"The people creating solutions were people who had experienced those challenges themselves," Wardroup said. "That was really important to me. It is an organization that is very plugged in to knowing the needs of the community that they are serving."
Much of her time was spent in a small primary care clinic serving residents of Kibera. Serving in a role similar to a medical assistant, she helped document patient visits, prepare medications, administer injectable treatments and assisted with minor outpatient procedures.
On some days the clinic saw only a handful of patients; on others, dozens streamed through the doors seeking care. The unpredictability created a challenging but invaluable learning environment.
"It kept me on my toes," she said. "Every day was different, and I learned so much."
In a primary care setting, she often saw the same families repeatedly, allowing her to witness both their struggles and progress. Beyond the clinic, Wardroup participated in community medical camps that provided free healthcare services.
During one medical camp hosted at a school, healthcare teams treated approximately 200 students in a single day. The experience reinforced the realities of healthcare scarcity, particularly identifying how to prioritize care for patients with limited resources and access to treatment.
"When someone may only see a physician once every several years, every interaction becomes incredibly important," Wardroup said. "You learn how to prioritize what matters most."
Beyond Healthcare
Home to more than four million people, the city is known for blending urban life with nature. Nairobi National Park, the world's only national park within a capital city's boundaries, offered a striking backdrop where wildlife roams within sight of the urban skyline. On weekends, Wardroup explored forests, parks, local restaurants and cultural sites that revealed Kenya's extraordinary diversity.
Equally memorable were the people she met.
Through her work, volunteer housing and community involvement, Wardroup developed friendships with Kenyans and international volunteers from around the world.
"Kenyans are some of the kindest people I've ever met," she said. "They were incredibly welcoming, patient and generous."
Wardroup also shared some of the challenges she experienced while living abroad. She explained that Nairobi has outgrown much of its infrastructure, and her daily commute often totaled two to three hours in a car each day. The long commutes, hand-washing laundry and navigating unfamiliar daily routines exposed her to a lifestyle vastly different from what she grew up with.
More significantly, she learned what it felt like to be visibly different in a culture that was not her own.
"As a foreigner, you're constantly aware that you're outside of the culture," she said. "People know you're learning, and they're welcoming, but there's also a mental weight that comes with always being aware of that difference."
Looking back, Wardroup considers those difficulties just as valuable as the successes. Those experiences helped develop humility, adaptability and empathy, qualities she hopes to carry into her future career in healthcare.
A Lasting Impact
Today, as she prepares for the next stage of her professional journey and explores graduate school opportunities, Wardroup says the experience continues to influence how she thinks about service, leadership and patient care. Her Lumos experience reaffirmed her commitment to serving underserved communities and broadened her understanding of healthcare as both a science and a human relationship.
"This has truly been one of the greatest experiences of my life," she said. "The lessons I learned, from patient care to understanding who I am and what I value, are things I will never forget."
Her Lumos-funded travel to Kenya was more than professional development for Wardroup. It was an education. Nairobi became a classroom, a workplace and ultimately a community that transformed the way she sees the world and her place within it.
Read more reflections from Annie’s Lumos travels.