Hola! 

Hi! My name is Shelby Dorth, and I graduated from the Clemson University Honors College in May of 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Spanish and International Health. Because of my interdisciplinary interests, I have pursued coursework in health sciences, Spanish language and culture, public health, political science, and religion. My experiences in these courses have shaped me into a more thoughtful, globally-minded person and equipped me with the tools to more effectively and holistically serve diverse populations. After I graduate from Clemson, I will be working with college-aged women as a Teaching Fellow at the American University for Women in Chittagong, Bangladesh. 

 

During my time at Clemson, I have seized a number of opportunities to increase my cultural competency and strengthen my communication skills. I have enjoyed working with international students through Clemson’s Conversation Partner program, interpreting medical Spanish for uninsured patients at the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic on Hilton Head Island, and expanding the breadth of my foreign policy knowledge at several global politics seminars. Through chatting regularly with international graduate students, I have come to appreciate several different attitudes, perspectives, and ways of life different from my own. The goal of the Conversation Partner program is to create a casual, one-on-one environment for cultural exchange. My partner and I have chatted about everything from silly accents and colloquial phrases to corrupt governments and cultural expectations for marriage. We have become more than conversation partners: we are friends. Our friendship has taught me that relationships have the power to bridge the canyon between two different cultural understandings, and I look forward to carrying that truth with me as I immerse myself in the language, culture, and healthcare system of Cordóba, Argentina in the Fall of 2023.

 

Though I am incredibly passionate about international work, I am not blind to the great need for healthcare in underserved minority communities within the United States. While working with Volunteers in Medicine, my eyes have been opened to the disparity in wealth and access to healthcare in my hometown. I have met countless courageous people who have ventured to the United States with hopes of a better future for themselves and their families, only to be met with the challenges of language barriers and healthcare accessibility. Their smiles in response to the bags of food we have prepared for them or my goofy jokes about my rusty medical Spanish have been sources of immeasurable joy. The mission and vision of the clinic ask that “we have eyes to see those rendered invisible and excluded; open arms and hearts to reach out and include them; healing hands to touch their lives with love; and, in the process, heal ourselves.” For the first time, I have truly been able to see the impact of my healing hands and words on the lives of patients. I have come to realize that employing my gifts to heal others is healing in itself. 

 

I believe that communication and team effectiveness are critical components of service, especially in a healthcare setting. Teams combine diverse perspectives to better meet the needs of others: in order to provide the best care to their patients, it is important that a team of healthcare providers collaborates well while simultaneously showcasing the individual strengths that each member of the team brings to the table. In order to improve my understanding of teamwork, I am involved in undergraduate research pertaining to team dynamics and efficiency through Clemson’s Creative Inquiry program. Through this experience, I have grown as an optimistic teammate, a flexible group member, a strong leader, and a respectful follower. I have also had the opportunity to get involved in  Clemson's Every Campus a Refuge Creative Inquiry as a project manager. I hope to continue to work with refugee and immigrant populations after I graduate. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to explore my website. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments. I would love to chat with you!