This post is the first of a series
I am excited to be going to do some work in Haiti this October.
My whole life I have wanted to do medical work overseas and now I am seeing a dream fulfilled.
I will be flying from San Francisco to Washington DC where I will meet up with an old friend and PA colleague from school and the team.
From there we will be heading to Miami and then into Port Au Prince.
We will then overland into the more rural areas of Haiti.
I don't know what to expect
I have done quite a bit of travel in my life, but never to a third world country.
Haiti is the poorest country in the northern hemisphere, and as we all know, the earthquake did little to better the lives of the typical Haitian.
Access to water is poor, and there is a cholera epidemic among other things. I have never seen things like cholera, dengue fever or malaria. For me it will be a real learning experience.
As a health care provider my goal is to do as much good as I can, not just temporary good, but the kind of good that can change lives. We are headed to Haiti for only one week, and I question how much good we can really do. Sometimes I feel like a medical voyeur, coming then going, seeing and then leaving the situation to go back to my warm home, fresh water and abundance of healthy food.
But the kind of problems that affect countries like Haiti can not be solved overnight. There are more NGO's working in Haiti per capita than I believe anywhere in the world.
Change and Growth
Travel anywhere outside ones comfort zone is a chance to grow as a person.
I will be leaving the comfort of my group to travel on my own for a week. Staying possibly one day in Port Au Prince and then crossing the boarder into the Dominican Republic.
My wife and I had lunch today with a couple, the wife who is US born and met her Dominican born husband while doing work for the Peace Corps in the rural Northwest of the country.
What I realized is that we have a lot of preconceived notions of a place that usually aren't true.
Many people have told me it is foolish to travel alone in these countries. And maybe if I don't make it back to finish this blog they are right. But what are we to do? We have to have faith in the world if we want to grow as human beings.
Beginning the Journey
This weekend I took the family to REI. I had a long talk with their knowledgeable staff about water purification tablets, bug spray and mosquito nets. I plan on packing for the two weeks in a small overnight pack. I have learned the key to happy travel is lightweight travel. This is something I have fine tuned with years of traveling and regrets with packing too much just about every time.
I can't wait to head out and I will be documenting my experience here.
My colleague tells me we have paid for a local Doctor to accompany us, which I assume we must have to work in Haiti as PA's. I am fascinated to see how this works, and even more fascinated to learn a bit of Creole.
View all posts in this series
You may also like -
The Globalization of Physician Assistants
As of 2020, the adoption of PAs has spread globally across a variety of health systems and at least fifteen countries have been in various stages of expansion of PA-like medical workers (nonphysician clinicians) that function under […]- Why We Really Need PAs in the UK: The British Physician Associate
Welcome to part three of this nine-part miniseries by documentary filmmaker Adam Halbur on the PA model around the world.
Growing the Physician Associate in the UK
In the United Kingdom, PA stands for physician […]
- PAs in the Netherlands: The Dutch Physician Assistant
Welcome to part two of this powerful nine-part miniseries by documentary filmmaker Adam Halbur on the physician assistant model around the world.
The Advent of the Dutch Physician Assistant
I met Quinten van den Driesschen, a […]
CASPA Personal Statement Help
We offer comprehensive, start-to-finish personal statement assistance or help to perfect a draft you already have. We have services to fit every budget.
Schedule a Live Recorded PA School Video Interview
We offer 60-minute mock PA school interviews with post-interview feedback and advice. Includes a recorded video of your interview that you can watch, download, or share with family and friends. There is no better way to prepare!
Schedule an InterviewPre-PA Consulting and Advising
Our pre-PA coaching service consists of a 1-hour phone consultation focused on addressing your specific questions or concerns about becoming a PA and applying to PA school.
I am currently an athletic trainer, starting PA school this fall. I am very interested in overseas work or medical missions after school. I am able to travel this summer and would love the opportunity to shadow/volunteer during my travel time. Do you have any contacts or suggestions for clinics that would take a student traveling solo for a week or two?
Thank you so much!
Hi Melissa, have you ever looked into GapMedics? https://www.gapmedics.com/ It isn’t free but they have summer internships. Also, http://www.pasforglobalhealth.com (I am the web chair) has a nice database of volunteer opportunities.
Stephen
I actually went to Haiti recently as a PA student. A large group of our PA class went over Spring Break on a Medical Mission trip. A few doctors and a pharmacist also volunteered to accompany us. It was the most amazing experience of my life and I would love to go back. The Haitian people are so welcoming, positive, and thankful! I know that you will have a wonderful and rewarding experience as well!
Jessica, we just finished our medical trip yesterday and now I am traveling on my own through the DR. You were right in every aspect. What an amazing opportunity to do this as a student. My PA colleague and I are talking about establishing a PA ran medical mission group to continue our work in Haiti (and possibly elsewhere) We were commenting on how wonderful it would be to extend this opportunity to students and other PA’s. Maybe you can come work with us in the future!
God bless, thank you for your work, and best of luck in your continued work as a PA…
Stephen