Contact:
Gladys Amador
305-899-4919
Miami, Fla. - This summer, more than a dozen Barry University, Physician Assistant students traveled to La Victoria, Dominican Republic to provide medical aid and volunteer their services for one week. Before taking the journey, students raised more than $2,000 to buy “Ready Relief Boxes,” which are packed with antibiotics, anti-fungal, and pain medications to take with them. Many doctors, PA's, and other health professionals, also donated a multitude of supplies for the project.
The students — who included Karie Weissman, Monica Agrawal, Mariana Corrales, Vivian Haji, Benjamin Becker, Trevor Kolski, Megan Ecker, Diana Petruk, Jessa Santiago, Nicole Valderrama, Sheryllyn Boulay, Shamita Patel, Michelle Roman, Crystal Thomas, and Amara Travers — treated more than 400 patients.
Students set up a clinic and volunteered in the La Victoria clinic and hospital. They also made house visits—traveling to family homes in order to see patients who otherwise would not have access to medical care. Barry PA’s were performing wound care, treating viral, bacteria, and fungal infections, pelvic exams and pap smears, and provided valuable health counseling and advice.
“The gratitude we received from the people there was indescribable and it was truly an unforgettable experience,” said Weissman, president of the Miami Shores class of 2014, who helped organize the activities.
You can see the video of the PA trip to Dominican Republic below: