Dr. Rachael Arabian, PNWU Physical Therapy Professor, Brings Global Lessons Home to the Northwest
“One of the most meaningful aspects was witnessing the impact of simply being present.”
For Dr. Rachel Arabian, Assistant Professor in Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences’ School of Physical Therapy (SOPT), this was more than an observation — it was a revelation.
Standing alongside a group of Cambodian healthcare providers in the inpatient wards of Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital, Dr. Arabian found that her presence alone helped foster trust in a place where it’s too often absent.
In Cambodia, systemic healthcare mistrust runs deep, cutting across all social classes.
Cambodia’s modern healthcare system exists in the long shadow of its devastating past. Under the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), an estimated 90% of Cambodia’s doctors were killed or forced to flee, effectively dismantling the nation’s medical infrastructure. This deliberate erasure of knowledge and institutional trust set back the country’s health system by decades, leaving behind deep scars in both the population’s physical well-being and their confidence in medical providers.
In the years that have followed, Cambodia’s healthcare sector has struggled to rebuild in the face of extreme poverty, government instability, and limited access to education. As a result, both public and private healthcare systems have become synonymous with inconsistency, under-regulation, and widespread inequity.
As a result, many Cambodians — across all socioeconomic levels — seek care only when absolutely necessary, often turning to traditional healers, local pharmacies, or at-home remedies before trusting clinical providers. This, of course, complicates efforts to provide effective care, even in non-governmental organizations such as Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital.
It also reinforces the importance of presence, partnership, and cultural humility — key principles Dr. Arabian emphasizes in her teaching, and throughout her time in Cambodia.
By participating in daily patient care alongside local providers, Dr. Arabian shared evidence-based practices in an effort to rebuild trust — one wound, one conversation, and one human connection at a time.
Her volunteerism is a reminder of the role clinicians play not just as healers, but as cultural bridges — and of the lasting impact that presence and compassion can have in rebuilding faith in care.
During her time in Cambodia, which was hosted through Health Volunteers Overseas, Dr. Arabian taught clinical practices in wound care and lymphedema. By joining rounds, participating in treatments, and walking the same hallways as local providers, she became part of the healing process.
“Their creativity and patient-centered approach offered valuable lessons.”
“Despite systemic limitations, their creativity and patient-centered approach offered valuable lessons, “explained Dr. Arabian. “Many of those can be translated to improve care in our own rural and underserved communities.”
“It reminded me that innovation and compassion thrive in all settings, and that bringing those insights back home helps us better fulfill PNWU’s vision of revolutionizing community health.”
Some of the lessons were born out of challenges: the use of store-bought honey in wound care, the lack of standardized mobilization protocols for inpatients, and improvised treatment tools like flip-flop soles used as off-loading devices. Some of the unconventional approaches even forced Dr. Arabian to reassess her own assumptions.
“Now that I’m back, I carry with me a deeper respect for clinical ingenuity and the importance of resource-conscious care.”
She also carries a vision for what comes next.
In Summer 2026, Dr. Arabian plans to return. She hopes to eventually bring students from PNWU.
“Under faculty supervision, students would participate in patient care, interdisciplinary rounds, and collaborative teaching with local providers, immersing them in a cross-cultural, resource-limited healthcare setting.”
“When we empower rural populations, we model sustainable health systems that work anywhere.”
“By investing in rural health, we advance global health — not as a separate cause, but as a unified commitment to equity, resilience, and human dignity. When we empower rural populations, we model sustainable health systems that work anywhere.”
The potential benefits are profound, for both students, the people of Cambodia, and the future health of communities across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
“This experience would not only enhance their clinical adaptability and problem-solving skills, but also deepen their empathy, cultural competence, and understanding of health disparities,” explained Dr. Arabian. “Students will return better prepared to meet the complex needs of rural and underserved populations in the Pacific Northwest, fulfilling both their educational goals and PNWU’s broader mission.”
