|
Back to News
GAPA Supports Mission Trip to Trinidad
The Medical College of Georgia Physician Assistant Medical Mission Team of 2009 gives special thanks to GAPA for their support in making this mission trip to Trinidad possible.
During March of this year, for the fifth consecutive year, I was privileged to be part of a medical mission team consisting of six very intelligent and motivated Physician Assistant students from the PA Program at the Medical College of Georgia. Along with Dr. Sharon Kuhn, the co- medical director for Mission to the World ,as well as Betsy Christiansen, a wonderful nurse/missionary, the "team" set out on an ambitious 14 day mission trip to the West Indies island of Trinidad.
Trinidad, a former British Colony, is populated by indigenous as well as imported Hindu, Muslim, and Christian believers who possess their own special beliefs, cultures and challenges. The MCG PA students delighted in the differences of presentations of these wonderful people. The student team saw many of the usual medical problems expected and did a wonderful job of evaluating, interpreting data (minimal available), and presenting their findings to Dr. Kuhn and myself. I was proud of the way the students performed in seeing a total of nearly 500 patients in varied settings including inside church meeting rooms, outside under tin covered patios, as well as visits to patients homes when they weren´t able to come to us.
Caroline Lott PA-S shared her impressions and thoughts about a "mission trip to the Caribbean and receive academic credit!? Sounds magnificent to me! Needless to say, I was on board from the beginning. Our trip to Trinidad began as any other trip would, everyone full of excitement and anticipation, eager to step out into the unknown. The six of us physician assistant students and our accompanying professor enjoyed the last American meal we would see for awhile at TGI Friday´s in the International terminal minutes before embarking on our journey into the unfamiliar culture of Trinidad. At this juncture, we were all naive to the life changing experience that would soon envelope the next twelve days of our lives.
 A few hours later we waited patiently as our plane touched down in the Port of Spain where we soon would be greeted by the hustle and bustle of the locals and whisked away by Sankar, our bus driver, with whom we would become intimately acquainted over the days to come. We were joined by Dr. Khun, an MCG physician and MTW co-medical director, and Betsy Christiansen, an RN and full time missionary, as we made our way to "the compound" where we would reside during our stay in Trinidad.
The nine of us made up our medical team: team leader PharmD/PA-C , one MD, one RN, and 6 physician assistant students. As compared with the much larger teams of medical students, we began behind the eight ball, so to speak. The pharmacy supply was limited and our laboratory screening abilities even more minimal, but we arrived with confidence and determination to make an impact, and, that we did. Our makeshift clinics took place in family homes, churches, and a community center. Daily we were amazed to witness the patients lining up and quietly waiting for hours as we all diligently worked, making sure that each received the care and attention they so desperately craved.
After a few days of this we began to realize that although the care they we receiving was exceptional and very thorough, it was our soft touch, kind words, and a listening ear that seemed to make the biggest impact in their lives. We were all humbled as the patients we saw would often send gifts and their loved ones back to see whomever it was that treated them. What an honor it is to have someone appreciate you so much for just taking time to listen to their concerns and pray for their wellbeing.
The value of this trip to the six of us cannot be measured. It has instilled in each of us the fundamental importance of a physician assistant: compassion. The experience in Trinidad observing socialized medicine and less than optimal health care will aid each of us in our future endeavors as Physician assistants. This rotation helped each of us to develop a more empathetic nature, and continues to remind us how important it is to a person´s wellbeing to take the time to treat each as a human being- not a number to meet your quota. None of us could have ever imagined what a positive impact Trinidad would have on our lives not only as people, but as professionals."
As Betsy Christiansen RN, co-team leader and full time missionary relates:
"Relativism is rampant in Trinidad, with Hinduism, Islam, animism and also black-magic Obeah worship competing for the souls of its citizens. Most only know fear-based religion and a frantic working to appease man-made idols or spirits of the occult world. Yes, they are real and do work only to kill, steal and destroy! John 10:10
Into this darkness 6 Physician Assistant seniors from Medical College of GA, Dr. Sharon Kuhn (co-MTW Medical Director), Dr. Donald Maner (MCG pharmacy professor and Team Leader) and I (the only RN) shared the Light of the gospel and the love of Jesus in 9 days of mobile-clinics. To understand that they could have a sin–forgiving, saving relationship with the God of Creation through faith in His Son Jesus, rather than struggle in religion, was transforming for 4 patients in particular.
Siew, with both Hindu and Presbyterian grade-school backgrounds came to clinic because of high BP, acid reflux and ´stress´. But he told PA-S Nicole of his deep depression since his wife died 2 years ago, and of turmoil with one son. Nicole asked me to join in prayer, and the Spirit led us as I shared about the One to Whom we´d intercede on his behalf. Soon Siew was smiling and all the angels in Heaven celebrating!"
In a final team-sharing, Paty said, "We can´t forget to carry compassion and prayer back into our U.S. clinical practices." And Nicole and Caroline both expressed, "I didn´t realize how important touch, listening and prayer is for our patients." MTW patient-encounters are especially powerful in Trinidad where a typical clinic visit–for which they wait all day–is less than 3 minutes and without dialogue or even a brief touch of an MD´s stethoscope!
I thank God for practitioners and medical school professors who invest their lives to mentor both clinical and spiritual character in students. I´m humbled to be a small part of it–all by God´s grace and by your commitment to Christ´s work of missions through faithful prayers and financial
sacrifices."
It is my belief as a PA faculty and practitioner, that these mission trips expose our future PA colleagues to other healthcare systems and peoples in parts of the world where most would otherwise never visit, and where they will learn to interact with these different cultures in a relaxed and non-prejudicial way.
|
In an effort to lower our environmental impact and preserve our natural resources, GAPA has elected to Go Green! Please look for our Green logo to learn more about GAPA´s Green Initiatives.
Upcoming Conferences:
2010 Summer Convention
July 19 - 23, 2010
Sandestin
Florida
Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort
Click for more info.
2011 Winter CME Conference
February 2 - 4, 2011
Atlanta, GA
Cobb Galleria Centre
|
Join GAPA
TODAY!
|
