Inside International Service Learning With Executive Director Jonathan Birnbaum

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A rainy roadside in Costa Rica changed everything. Jonathan Birnbaum watched buses pause for photos and press on, while he and his family stepped out to help. That simple choice grew into International Service Learning, an education-first, healthcare-focused organization that partners with ministries of health and local teams to deliver ethical, hands-on experiences for students, faculty, and professionals.

We dig into how ISL built a model that puts community needs first and learning at the center. Jonathan explains why the organization shifted from general service to medical care, how faculty-led teams became the norm, and what it takes to credential nurses and clinicians so they can legally practice in-country and earn CEUs. You’ll hear the structure of a nine-day trip—from orientation to home visits, mobile clinics, community celebration, and cultural immersion—and the quiet systems that make it work: bilingual translators, vetted kitchens and hotels, and evacuation plans tuned by on-the-ground staff who know the neighborhoods, not just the news.

This conversation unpacks the heart of responsible global health. Instead of chasing big numbers, ISL chooses careful, supervised clinics that uncover root causes like indoor smoke, water safety, and sanitation. We talk scholarships, leader fee waivers, and why airfare is left to travelers so ISL can stay focused on education and safety. Jonathan also shares what’s next: rebuilding post-COVID capacity, expanding specialties, and deepening partnerships with universities and associations to create accessible, high-quality global health programs across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

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Book Recommendation:

1. Where There Is No Doctor - Werner, Thuman, & Maxwell

I also want to thank our listeners for joining us as it is our goal to not only share with you our guest’s introduction to international healthcare, but also to share with you how that exposure to international healthcare has shaped their future path in healthcare. As true patient advocates, we should all aspire to be as well rounded as possible in order to meet the needs of our diverse patient populations.


As a 45+ year nurse that has worked in quite a variety of clinical roles in our healthcare system, taught healthcare courses for the past 20 years at the university level, and has traveled extensively with my students on international service-learning trips, I can easily attest to the fact that healthcare focused students need, and greatly benefit from the opportunity to have hands-on experiential healthcare experiences in an international setting! I have seen the growth of students post travel as their self-confidence in their newly acquired skillsets, both clinical and cultural, facilitates their ability to take advantage of opportunities that previously may not have been available to them. By rendering care internationally, and stepping outside one's comfort zone, many more doors of opportunity will be opened.


Feel free to check out our website at www.islonline.org, follow us on Instagram @ islmedical, and reach out to me @ [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])