Ecuador Medical Outreach and Clinical Rotation RVU Global Medicine recently ventured to a new location for its popular medical outreach trips: Ecuador. In February, eight third- and fourth-year students (along with faculty Camille Bentley, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Chair of Global and Community Medicine, and Tina Underwood, MA Ed., Associate Director of Clinical Assessment and Simulation) traveled to Quito, the capital city located in northern Ecuador. For several days, they participated in a cultural exchange program where they received instruction in Spanish Immersion and Ecuadorian Culture. "While learning about Ecuadorian culture," said Brianna Anthony, OMS-III, "I kept thinking how much their ideas about health and life aligned with [osteopathic medicine philosophy]. There is a lot of focus on the mind-body-spirit connection and how we, as humans, are not only reliant on nature, but equally part of nature."
Abby Dekle, OMS-III, Rebekka Lee, OMS-I, and Danika Evans, OMS-I
At the beginning of the second week, a group of 12 first-year students arrived with Mark Lea, MD, FACS, Assistant Professor of Structural Medicine. Together, the groups flew south to Cuenca, a smaller, warmer city located in central Ecuador. For the next week, the students saw approximately 120 patients, while working beside students from Catholic University Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Dentistry. The nursing students did the intake and triage, while medical students met with patients and ran the pharmacy and lab.
Brianna Anthony, OMS-III, Tina Underwood, and Aubrey Arensdorf, OMS-I
RVU students worked in pairs: one clinical student with one first-year student. The students rotated teams daily. By the end of the week, all students were presenting their cases to an attending. "It truly was a learning experience for everyone involved," said Dr. Bentley. "The faculty of Catholic University was very impressed by our students and quickly spread the good word to their dean." SD Anthony added: "On any medical mission trip, we provide medical care to an underserved population; but I believe we, as volunteers, truly are the ones who benefit the most." Photos provided by Abby Dekle and Brianna Anthony.
Stephen Groendyk, OMS-I, Ryan King, OMS-I, and Abby Dekle, OMS-III
Vista View
Abby Dekle, OMS-III, Brian Russ, Garrett Rota, OMS-I, Courtney OMS-III, and Henry Garcia (a dental Cage, OMS-IV, and a student of student of Catholic University) Catholic University
Old Church in downtown Cuenca
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