COM Outlook Spring 2019

22 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Located in the Dang District of the state of Gujarat, 8,700 miles from NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus, 44 students and 9 preceptors traveled 32 hours to learn, teach, and serve 1,005 patients in a makeshift clinic in the rural village of Ahwa, India, in December. Temporary accommodations were assembled to create a fully functioning clinic on the construction site of a future hospital spearheaded by KPCOM namesake Dr. Kiran C. Patel, M.D. During their time in India, Ashok Patel, M.D., ensured that students had the opportunity to learn from preceptors and practice in the fields of dental medicine, pharmacy, optometry, psychology, pediat- rics, general medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), and surgery. The cases seen by the medical team ran the gamut from gangrene and leprosy to joint pain and diabetes. “India was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was a great experience because there were so many challenges that really brought our team closer together,” said seasoned traveler and first-year student Brittany Kennedy. “It was an endeavor traveling the distance, adjusting to the environment, allocating resources, and communicating in a foreign language before we even began treating patients.” As patient care began and the days progressed, Kennedy became very aware of the true determina- tion of the patients coming to the clinic. “All the individuals who came through were extremely patient, grateful, and willing to walk 15 or 20 miles with their kids and families just to be seen for 15 minutes. I was also shocked by their culture of appreciation,” she explained. “Mothers, fathers, and children dressed up in their nicest clothes to come see us and always took off their shoes before entering the clinic,” she added. “The region of Gujarat we served struck me as ex- tremely rural, with beautiful people who needed improved health care. It was exciting to be able to provide that to them.” Kennedy noted that language was a major barrier to providing health care in the region. India is a country with more than 454 living languages, and it came to the immediate MEDICAL OUTREACH TRIP OFFERS INTRIGUE BY JOSHUA BERKO First-year student Joshua Berko and second-year student Shivani Patel assess the vital signs of a pediatric patient. INDIA INSIDE