Page 32 - COM Outlook - Spring 2013

32 COM Outlook . Spring 2013
Cultural Enlightenment a Byproduct
of Peru Medical Outreach Trip
majored in anthropology in college and gained a
tremendous appreciation for the different traditions,
languages, and lifestyles that make people unique.
But it was not until I first traveled out of the country that
I realized the true wonder of culture.
There is a certain unexplainable rush people feel when
they put themself in a new environment—and it feels
slightly uncomfortable. We become aware of our own cul-
ture when we immerse ourselves in a different culture, just
as we learn about our individual personality through inter-
action with a variety of people. My decision to participate
in the medical outreach trip to Peru last December was
motivated by my strong belief that our lives are enriched
when we learn to appreciate diversity.
Yet, as I reflect on my
experience in Peru, I realize
I was more impressed by the
similarities between Peruvi-
ans and Americans than the
differences. In other words,
in my search for the exotic, I
found the essential. I learned
from several unique interac-
tions with patients that all
people—no matter their age,
culture, or economic situa-
tion—desire to look and feel
their best. Human nature
drives people to seek health and wellness.
One of my very first interactions in the Peruvian clinic
was with a young boy. He approached me as I was passing
out hygiene supplies and asked for a toothbrush. I let him
choose his favorite color, and he went back to sit with his
mother. He approached me again and asked for a glass of
water. I gave him water and went back to my task. He then
ran toward me a few minutes later with a wet T-shirt and
a huge grin and asked if we could take a picture together.
He wanted to see his “new teeth.” It was heartwarming to
witness the surge of confidence the young boy experienced
simply from brushing his teeth.
Later in the week, my colleagues and I had the opportu-
nity to learn from Brent Schillinger, M.D., an experienced
dermatologist who saw hundreds of patients over the course
I of four days. Many of the patients we saw had common
dermatological complaints like rashes and warts. However,
an impressive number of patients presented with cosmetic
complaints like acne and superficial moles. Dr. Schillinger
attended to the patients with cosmetic complaints, just as
he did the patients with infectious skin conditions. At first, I
questioned Dr. Schillinger’s approach because I study public
health and have been taught to think in terms of how to do
the most good with the fewest resources.
Many would argue that setting up a surgical suite to
inject subcutaneous cortisol in acne cysts and excise benign
lesions is not the most efficient strategy for a medical out-
reach team. Perhaps they are right. But I certainly changed
my opinion after seeing the transformations of the patients.
What Dr. Schillinger knew,
and my colleagues and I
came to understand, is that
even though an ugly skin tag
might not kill a person, it can
have a profound effect on
one’s self esteem. The osteo-
pathic profession teaches that
there is a connection between
the mind, body, and soul.
Therefore, what affects one’s
psyche affects one’s health.
Socioeconomic forces
also have a profound effect
on one’s health status. The patients we saw in the clinic
were very poor and most worked as laborers. I could see
how the everyday challenges of poverty took a toll on
their wellbeing. Although the assumption is that most of
the suffering in the developing world is due to infectious
disease, we learned that poor people suffer from many
chronic diseases as well.
Dr. Robin J. Jacobs, associate professor and director of in-
ternational medicine, developed an ongoing research study
to investigate common sources of musculoskeletal pain seen
in patients in the areas we serve during the outreach trips.
I, along with other students, served as research assistants to
collect data. The majority of patients I interviewed reported
suffering from pain on a daily basis. Chronic pain is as
devastating to a person in Piura, Peru, as it is to a person in
By OMS-II Brittany Gray International Outreach at NSU-COM