On March 16-23, members of the University of Nebraska Medical Centers
Student Alliance for Global Health (SAGH) will journey to Jamaica for their
annual medical mission. The six days at Falmouth will provide a unique
experience for 22 students to serve one of the poorest communities in the
Western Hemisphere.
The small health clinic in Falmouth serves more than 500 people in a
single week and is open only during overseas medical missions. The students,
supervised by four UNMC family practice advisers, will face a daily onslaught
of social and health conditions found only among the poorest of the poor.
In addition to serving clinic patients, the students will visit the local
elementary school and give workshops on nutrition, reproduction and infections.
Also, waiting patients in the clinic will receive educational presentations
on how to avoid a number of diseases endemic to the area.
The opening of the Falmouth clinic has a significant impact on the entire
area. People travel from outlying areas to get care because it may be their
only opportunity for an indefinite amount of time. The clinic is open only
when overseas medical personnel journey to Falmouth, bringing their own
medical supplies and instruments. Although there is a local facility that
includes a hospital and clinic, there is limited health care because there
are few physicians. As a result, the periodic opening of the Falmouth clinic
by medical missions is crucial.
Students participating in the Jamaica mission include: Antara Pothuloori
(M1), Dana Olson (M1), John Grebe (M2), Jessica Bracken (M2), Matthew Sweney
(M2), Katie Hanson (M1), Molly Collins (M1), Chad Branecki (M2), Brenda
Chrastil (M2), Jill Pecha (M2), Ryan Hurd (M1), Carrie Beehner (M2), Stephanie
Diamantis (M1), Jon French (M2), Jeff Boyle (M2), Josh Phillips (M1),
Scott Welch (M2), Roger Paulman (M1), Lance Wiebusch (M2), Michael Bauer
(M2), and trip leaders Jessica Banks (M2) and Alecia Hollman (M2). Faculty
advisers accompanying the group are Jeff Hill, M.D., associate professor;
Monty Matthews, M.D., adjunct assistant professor; and Jason Citta, M.D.,
house officer IV — all from the department of internal medicine-family
medicine.
I see the Jamaica mission trip as a tremendous learning tool that will
give me hands-on experience with the medical treatment of patients, Banks
said. It also teaches me more about what it means to interact with patients
on all levels, including spiritually and emotionally. I know I will learn
so much both inside and outside the clinic by experiencing the Jamaican
people.
The entire success of the Jamaican mission relies upon the support of
the Omaha community, pharmaceutical company donations and local physician
assistance. The SAGH student must pay his or her own airfare ($600) and
lodging. Cash donations, which are not used to purchase medical supplies,
help defray some of the personal expenses of the students.
Donations are tax deductible and are still being accepted. For more
information, contact Jessica Banks at 402-561-6640 or Sara Pirtle at 402-559-2924.