consists of 2-3 physicians, a dentist, optometrist, and a pharmacy. As students, we serve in a variety of roles. Often, we triage patients as they come to the clinic. We are responsible for taking vital signs and assessing the chief complaints with which the patients present. With the help of translators, we also serve as patient education for most of the visitors. Our role in this capacity usually involves explaining how to use or take the medications prescribed by the physicians. Sometimes, groups of students will perform outreach missions in which we will host demonstrations for children on how to perform basic hygiene. For example, we will give tutorials on how to properly brush teeth or wash hands. Ultimately, students will likely spend most of their time filling prescriptions in the pharmacy. The pharmacy is the engine of our clinic. On our most recent trip, we treated 1500 patients in 5 days. With this, we filled 2700 prescriptions for these patients. Without student help in the pharmacy, our patients would go unserved.
What are some moments that stood out for you?
Obviously, hearing about the lack of health care options for poor and rural communities is continuously impactful. Every time I return it hurts to hear patients say, “I cannot afford to see a doctor” or “I haven’t seen a doctor in 25 years.” The unfortunate reality is sentences like these have become a commonality with every clinic we set up. However, I personally believe the biggest takeaways come from the joy most patients express even when we give them the simplest of care. Personally, moments like ‘watching a 9-year-old smile because he can hear his friends after a simple wax-removal’ or ‘hugging a grandmother who is crying tears of joy because she can finally see her granddaughter with her new glasses’ are the most life-changing. Not only does one feel accomplished for providing much needed care, but moments like these really put my opportunity, privilege, and capabilities as a future provider into much needed perspective.
What were some of your big takeaways from the experience?
My takeaways from this past trip are the same as my takeaways from each trip I have been on thus far. My trips with AcE always reaffirm my decision to pursue a career as a physician, more specifically, an Osteopathic physician. Given our limited resources and time in the clinic, it is imperative for us to be deliberate in our decisions in order to provide the most clinical benefit for each patient. I believe as a future Osteopathic physician, our unique perspectives on diagnosing, treating, and caring for more than a patient’s disease will one day allow me to bring maximal benefit to these patients. More broadly, I always leave Honduras realizing that the patients I helped gave me more than I have given them. As a student, the most I can do for a patient is take a reliable blood pressure or demonstrate how to properly apply an anti-fungal cream. However, every patient I see gives me the encouragement to continue on the road ahead with the motivation to find a more permanent health care solution for these patients.
Why do you think medical missions are important? How would you recommend the experience to other students?
I think medical missions are important because I also believe any person who devotes one’s life to health care must realize he or she is a public servant. Whether a MD, DO, PA, RN, pharmacist, or physical therapist, I believe we have a duty to help others with our acquired skills no matter the patient’s location on the planet. Health care needs exist everywhere: both outside our doors and outside our borders. As health care providers, we are incessantly busy serving the need that exists outside our doors. Therefore, I believe every so often it is important to remember and treat the needs of those who may never have the chance to see a provider. If anyone (students, clinicians, therapists, etc.) wishes to get involved, AcE welcomes you with open arms. If finding your way to AcE is not possible, I encourage everyone to get involved with mission work when possible. These trips are often life-changing experiences that reaffirm our reasons for entering the field while making sure every person’s right to a healthy life is acknowledged.
AcE Goes to Honduras