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HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine:

Our Medical Service Experience in Ecuador

BY SHELLEY XU AND analgesics. We were also able to perform
MONIQUE MICHEL vision screenings and provide prescrip-
tion glasses to those in need. A highlight
Ecuador is a beautiful South American of our trip was an elderly woman who
country that borders Columbia in the came into our clinic with abdominal
north and Peru in the south. The country pain. Upon palpation, our student doc-
takes its name from the Equator, as it is tors and attending physicians diagnosed
one of the few countries that lies on this her with a probable abdominal aortic
famous line. aneurysm that had the possibility of rup-
Dr. Elaine Wallace, the Dean of Nova turing. Because we did not have the
Southeastern University’s College of proper equipment, we had to send her to
Medicine, first started the medical trips the hospital but were unable to follow up
to Ecuador over 10 years ago because she on her care.
was interested in catering to people who Although we had some limitations, it
lived in high altitude, about 8,000 feet or was evident that osteopathic manipula-
more above sea level. These trips began tive treatment (OMT) had a great impact
when Dean Wallace happened to stumble on the healthcare needs of the communi-
across “San Jorge Eco-lodges” while on ty. We provided hands-on treatment to
vacation in Ecuador. She met Dr. George relieve pain and inflammation. Dr.
Cruz, then owner of four Ecuadorian Widboom, an OMT specialist and profes-
lodges and a veterinarian, who has since medical practice in Ecuador. Finally, in covered corner to serve as a private sor at NSU-COM, remarked, “It inspired
become the gracious host of the Ecuador May, twenty-six first year medical stu- examination room. Many of our patients me to see these first-year students effec-
missions. dents and five preceptors packed their were native Quechua people who walked tively using the hands-on skills we teach
Planning each mission takes incredible bags and headed on a medical adventure from local neighborhoods to be seen at … to diagnose and treat patients in the
time and effort, and Evelyn Martinez, our to the jungles of Ecuador. the clinic. absence of blood tests, imaging and
Medical Outreach Program Coordinator, We began our trip at the Pichincha We spent two days at the clinic in the many medical treatment options."
was the backbone of the trip. She worked Province of Quito, Ecuador. We set up high altitude of Quito, and then another For most of us this was our first service
with NSU-COM’s International Medical our first clinic just a short hike down the two days in the rainforest of Tandayapa. trip abroad. We were inspired by our
Outreach Club to coordinate logistics, mountain from one of George’s lodges. We were able to treat many acute illness- experience to continue serving the less
served as our primary Spanish inter- Our clinic consisted of a small, one-room es with the simple screening tests we fortunate, whether they are 3,500 miles
preter and requested all legal permits for building with plastic chairs and a tarp- brought, and a variety of antibiotics and away or in our very own neighborhood.

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18 August 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News