OT’ s Medical Mission in Kenya Continues
Gwynedd Mercy University’ s Occupational Therapy program traveled to Kenya for the second straight summer for a medical mission trip, providing students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put their skills into practice. her expertise as a radiologic technologist and personal experience as an African native. Linda is an active member of Cornerstone Church and has been on six mission trips with Chariots for Hope.
Adjunct Instructor of OT Rachel Shoener, OTR / L was introduced to the opportunity through Cornerstone Church of Skippack where Chariots for Hope is a core partner. After attending a pilot trip, Instructor Shoener realized there was a significant gap in accessible training and equipment to provide hearing, vision, and developmental screenings.
This inspired her to form a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to train 27 staff members across eight children’ s homes in Kenya. The teams learned how to administer and score developmental, hearing, and vision screenings. Prior to the training, only 1 % of children in Chariots for Hope’ s homes had ever received a developmental, hearing, or vision screening.
“ These children do not have the privilege of the kind of healthcare we here in America take for granted. I was on the Vision Team along with [ OT students ] Lisa and Hannah. They taught at the baby home, and I could not have been more proud. They taught like professionals, adapted to every situation they were faced with, and never complained. I have no doubt they will succeed in their professional and personal lives,” Linda said.
In August 2025, Professor Shoener and Dr. MacRone- Wojton returned to Kenya to build upon their previous work along with six MSOT students, Katelei Clark, Shannon Meenan, Gabriela Mills, Kennedy Niness, Trinitee Thompson-Pierce, and Lindsay Worthington.
Instructor Shoener recruited her colleague and teammate Associate Professor of OT Mindy MacRone-Wojton, DSc, OTR / L to organize the 2024 trip. They presented the opportunity to the OT cohort and two students, Hannah Kalup and Lisa DiLullo, volunteered to join.
In a full circle and serendipitous moment, GMercyU alumna Linda( Farina) Harper’ 88 joined the team, bringing
The GMercyU team actively engaged in hands-on therapy sessions at AIC Kijabe Hospital’ s Child Developmental Clinic and provided practical suggestions for children and their families.
Prior to the trip, MSOT students worked in pairs, with guidance from professors, to create seven different training sessions. Through facilitating the training modules, MSOT students expressed growth in their leadership skills as well as an appreciation for the commitment of Chariots for Hope’ s team members to overcome challenges associated with health inequities and social injustices.
Learn more about the mission trips, including more photos and how to support!
Top: Gabriela Mills, Rebecca Lubin, Kennedy Niness, Shannon Meenan, Professor Rachel Shoener, Professor Mindy MacRone-Wojton, Lindsay Worthington, Katelei Clark, Trinitee Thompson-Pierce
Left: Katelei Clark engaging in a therapy session.
TODAY 11