JOURNEY OF COMPASSION : A MEDICAL MISSION IN NICARAGUA
By Camryn Peets | Beta Beta Alumna | Clarkson University
I felt honored to be in the presence of these beautiful people and welcomed into their homes . This was one of the most powerful experiences of my life .
Hi ! My name is Camryn Peets and I am an alum of the Beta Beta Chapter of Clarkson University , currently a second year student in the Clarkson PA program . On spring break this year , I traveled to Nicaragua on a medical mission trip with some of my peers to provide care to medically underserved communities . Our organization is called Students Without Borders ( SWOB ) and we partnered with a non-government organization called Los Rayos de Esperanza in Diriomo , Nicaragua .
This experience allowed me to immerse myself in the culture of medical care in the developing world . As a second year student , I had the opportunity to provide health education and hands-on care to real life patients . I was able to gather insight on the medical , social , and economic disparities that exist today , and in turn developed a greater appreciation for the things in life we often take for granted .
Initially , I had no idea what to expect of the trip . I arrived there thinking that one week was such a short amount of time , and questioned whether we would be able to provide sustainable and meaningful healthcare . I was astounded by how kind and appreciative everyone was . We were welcomed with open arms and open hearts in Nicaragua , and after just a few days I knew that the impact of this trip would be more powerful than I had anticipated .
Our team of 10 third year students , 2 second year students , and 4 preceptors saw close to 500 patients in the four days that we were there . Third year students also ran a vision station and restored sight to nearly 150 people with reading and prescription glasses . On our first day , I worked with another student at the children ’ s health fair to provide education about dental hygiene and provided toothbrushes and toothpaste to kids who otherwise would not have access to them . That afternoon , I worked with a peer to teach over 20 teen girls about menstruation , puberty , and women ’ s health .
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