Operation Walk

Since March 2005, more than a dozen Cornell students have participated in Operation Walk missions to countries such as El Salvador, Vietnam, and China at the invitation of Operation Walk founder Dr. Lawrence D. Dorr '63. The students observe medical professionals performing joint replacement surgeries, and they assist with physical therapy and many other aspects of the trip. The experience exemplifies how Cornell students are applying theory to practice through Dimensions: The Center for the Science and Culture of Healthcare.

Application Process

Two Cornell students will be accompanying the Operation Walk Los Angeles team to Vietnam in January of 2010.

The application process is as follows; all materials must be received by the deadline at noon to the Dimensions Resource Center, Room 102 in West Science.

• Except for the letters of recommendation, all materials should be provided together in a large envelope. Please do not use staples.

• Two letters of recommendation. One letter should be from a faculty member within your major, and one letter should be from a faculty or professional staff member at Cornell outside of your major. Only one of the recommendations can be from a member of the Dimensions Operations Committee (listed below). The recommendation should touch on the topics listed below under "Selection Process", as well as any additional supporting information that will assist the committee. Use the recommendation form, or have the faculty member provide a one-page recommendation directly to Julie Barnes or Barbara Christie-Pope via campus mail or e-mail attachment.

• Your resume. Make sure it is updated, error free, and approved by Career Services. Include a reference list with a least two references and their contact information. These can be faculty, staff, employers, co-workers, or past internship sponsors; avoid personal references. A copy of your resume will go the Operation Walk administrator.

• A brief personal statement. This 1-2 page essay should include information that your resume does not – your reasons for applying, your career goals, the skills you would bring to the Operation Walk team, what you hope to achieve if selected, and how this experience will benefit your future academic and career goals. Additionally, it should touch on the topics listed under "Selection Process". The essay should be free of grammatical and spelling errors and be no more than two pages, double spaced. Poorly written essays will disqualify applicants; we encourage you to use the services of the Writing Resource Center or Career Services. Be sure to sell us on why you specifically want to go on Operation Walk.

• Your current unofficial transcript printed from the Cornell web page.

• Documentation of your passport. Acceptable documentation is a photocopy of the first page of your passport. This requirement is not negotiable.

Selection Process

Applications and supporting documents will be examined by the Dimensions Operations Committee. After screening applicants, the finalists will be asked to interview with the Committee and the administrator of Operation Walk will review the applications prior to final selection. The Committee includes:  Julie Barnes, Barbara Christie-Pope, Craig Tepper, Genevieve Migely, Ann Cannon, Tori Barnes-Brus, and Courtenay Baker-Olinger. The committee evaluates applications on the following merits:

1. Work ethic and habits
2. Evidence of self-direction
3. Leadership experience – involvement in activities, either on or off campus, and evidence of taking responsibility for tasks and pursuing them to completion
4. Ability to work well with others
5. Ability to work under pressure and in stressful environments
6. Language proficiency
7. Evidence of strong communication skills
8. Professional interests
9. Strong performance in a substantial distribution of coursework

References will be contacted as needed. Finalists will be interviewed before selection. Interviewers will be three members of the Dimensions Operations Committee, and if applicable, will not include one of your recommenders. All applicants will be notified when the final candidates are selected.

Expectations of Selected Applicants

Applicants selected for this extraordinary opportunity will be expected to:

• Consult with a health provider regarding the recommended immunizations and travel preparations prior to the trip.
• Meet with students who participated in past trips to prepare and share information.
• Meet with Dimensions Program administration regarding personal conduct on the trip.
• Review and submit a travel liability release form to the College.
• Provide feedback to the Dimensions Operations Committee about the experience and assist students interested in future trips.
• Additionally, students will be required to write and present a paper on an educational topic of their choice in relation to their experience.

Please direct all questions to  Julie Barnes.

For more information on Operation Walk itself, go to www.operationwalk.org.