The Dominican Republic Mission trip is an annual event hosted by the Global Health interest group that lasts for a week during the PAL block. Several first year medical students and physician staff travel and perform free medical checks and examinations for the local population that works in the Batey community. The Bateys are sugarcane plantations that have a large population of Haitian migrant workers and poor Dominican workers. The trip is kindly provided lodging by Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, a Catholic organization dedicated to providing for the orphan population in the countries they are set up in. This experience was an excellent time in which we were able to use our clinical knowledge to help console and reassure patients, while also treating them with the medications that the club fundraises.
Matt Mitchell, leader of the Global Health Interest Group, had this to say about his experience: “As leader of the group, I was able to see a lot of growth individually and as a group. By the end of the trip, we were assessing, diagnosing, and treating with little required assistance from the physicians with us. Things really got on a roll by the last few days, and it was incredible to see the initiative and leadership that everyone showed. I also had such an incredible time helping those in dire need. I remember specifically holding the hand of a bedridden 70 year old man with Parkinson’s while we cleaned his decubitus ulcer. It was heartbreaking to see the conditions that he was in, but humbling to be able to contribute to making him even a little more comfortable in his last days. It really gave me a reminder of why we contribute so much time and energy into learning our craft and put the focus back on the (future) patients and off the block scores.”
Ashley Nelson, one of the students on this trip had this to say: “I heard about the trip from school. I wanted to go as an experience to connect with different people and a different culture, hone clinical skills, and perform a service for those without access to clinical facilities. Seeing the level of poverty in the bateys (local plantation communities) was a culture shock and a reality check. I was impressed with how happy the people who came to see us were nevertheless. I thought NPH was fantastic, and had amazing goals. Their focus on educating the kids and helping them come out of difficult circumstances was amazing. The kids were well-behaved and the volunteers were all kindhearted.
It is hard to pick just one patient encounter. It was hard treating kids, especially those with full blown ear infections. One woman made an impression on me. She was super concerned and super worried because she had one cataract removed, and she had a lot of pain in the eye post-op. It was meaningful because she came and hopefully left with a lot more information and understanding. We were able to give her some anti inflammatory medication and some reassurance and helped her dry her tears. I sort of felt that she was a kind of person who I was truly able to help.”
Mohammad Khan’s reflection on the trip includes this work of prose:
A first chapter, recorded; labors of work and study rewarded.
Across the sea we fly — a crew with new insight as problems and cases diversify.
Roiling heat, dusty breaths sustain us; the work calls and they need us.
Rooms made from tools we could find; problems and words complex placed us in a bind.
For people in need, seeking help and guidance; we laid down our hands, and listened in silence.
Cases, studies in intimate details of life; cures for pain and strife.
A one-legged man in pain. Our eyes saw his discomfort and strain.
Yet, he never stopped smiling, as our diagnoses were compiling.
His hands were pained, his wrists were strained; however in healing himself he was trained.
For the patient, good things come in time, though this path is long, and full of pantomime.
The radiant smiles of those in pain, when life turns shocking; for them this path is worth walking.
Mohammad Khan is a fourth-year medical student in The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Class of 2021. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2014 with two bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and biology. He then worked as a teacher and completed a Master's in biomedical diagnostics in 2017. For fun, Mohammad (who also goes by Mokha) likes to practice at the archery range, work on calligraphy, game, and fountain pen writing, and read science fiction novels. He is interested in medicine with a focus on educating patients.