Perspectives Winter/Spring-2017

COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES • 55 August 2015 Induction Ceremony” After a year of planning, fund-raising, and seemingly endless meetings amidst a difficult year of graduate school, NSU Orlando physician assistant students embarked on a life-changing mission trip to Guatemala during the week of August 7–15. For the second consec- utive year, NSU students spent a week trekking through the mountains of Guatemala to administer medical care to the indigenous Poqomchi’ population. Each day began at sunrise with an arduous, hour-long hike to an unconventional location where the clinic would be set up. These locations ranged from rural schools to villagers’ homes—all nestled in the breathtak- ing mountainous scenery. To the students, practicing medicine at these remote sites was challenging. While it was initially daunting, the students’ doubts were quickly eased when they received smiles from each patient during their days in the clinic. During the mission trip, the students gained firsthand experience with diagnosing and treating common ailments such as pneumonia, dermatitis, ear infections, and much more. While it is essential to provide medical care to patients in developing countries, it is equally, if not more, important to offer sustainable solutions to prevent future medical ailments. Many of the health problems endemic to this population stem from drinking contaminated water or inhaling smoke from the open flames in homes burning around the clock for cooking and warmth. Newly installed stoves allow for smoke to be routed outside of the home through a metal chimney. Water filtration systems are efficient, consisting of two, five-gallon buckets and a small filter to sanitize the collected rainwater. The Orlando PA students were able to install 20 stoves and water filtration systems in villagers’ homes. Addi- tionally, students provided public health education pertaining to personal hygiene, dental care, water sanitation, and sexual health. These topics were pre- sented to large groups of people, who gathered while receiving medical care or obtain- ing important preventive health information. For most of the Orlando PA stu- dents, this was their first mission trip. For several others, this was the first time they had left the United States. But by week’s end, all the students agreed this would not be their last mission trip. Being able to treat more than 350 patients in an area with limited resources and even less medical care was an impact- ful experience not soon forgotten. n While it was initially daunting, the students’ doubts were quickly eased when they received smiles from each patient during their days in the clinic.