My First International Trip to Haiti as a Physician Assistant – Preperation

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.

Stephen Pasquini PA-C Physician Assistant

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life, Smarty PANCE Board Review, and PASchoolfinder websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and to foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

See Full Bio

Physician Assistant Physician Associate CASPA Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) PA School Interviews PA School Admissions PA School Personal Statements

Download Your FREE 300 PA School Interview Questions and Answers Workbook

Sign up below to receive your free 65 page 300 PA school interview questions and answers workbook.

Send My Workbook

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Webinar: Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement

Hosted by Stephen Pasquini PA-C, Deanna Matzen

About this webinar Are you applying to PA school but worried about writing a compelling personal statement that will grab the admissions committee’s attention? Do you want to learn the secrets of crafting a PA school essay that stands out from the crowd and showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for PA school? ​ If so, then you don’t want to miss our webinar on Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement. ​ In this webinar, you will learn the following: What a personal statement is and how schools use them. You will understand the purpose and expectations of writing a personal statement and how schools use this information during the admission process. What to do before you start writing. You will learn how to prepare and organize your thoughts, research, and brainstorm your strengths and achievements. A successful structure for your personal statement. You will learn how to craft a clear, coherent, and compelling narrative that showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for their program. Common mistakes to avoid. You will learn how to polish your personal statement and avoid errors that could undermine your credibility or impact. By joining this webinar, you will gain valuable insights and tips on how to write a personal statement that increases your chances of admission to your desired PA school. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from our experienced PA school coaches. ​ Don’t miss this chance to learn how to write your best PA school personal statement. Register now and secure your spot for this webinar. You won’t regret it! ​

Powered by

Register Now Powered by

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.

Personal Statement Editing

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 Interview

Pre-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.

PPre-PA Consulting and Advising

Download Your Free Copy of the How to Write Your PA School Essay Workbook

We created a free workbook to help you craft a personal statement that the admissions directors will be dying to read. Tell us where to send your free copy.