Blog of Shoulder to Shoulder

University of Cincinnati Family Medicine brigade (April 9 -20)

Administrator — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:20:53 +0000

Santa Lucia was happy to welcome their first brigade of the year… this large group of over 30 people came from University of Cincinnati accompanied by translators from the bilingual school in La Ceiba. They were made up of 3 attendings, 6 residents, 6 medical students, 1 pharmacist, 4 pharmacy students and our very own Sharon Mullen.

Resident student taking vitals at a local field clinic

2 weeks were packed with 3 groups leaving to various communities everyday with activities ranging from field clinics to diabetes and hypertension clubs. Some days includes health fairs which offered pap-smears, dental revisions and education as well as a variety of labs such as pregnancy and HIV tests. The group never lost steam and were determined to do blood pressure screenings in the Magdalena market and a cleaning operation on the weekend as well as home visits everyday after clinic. Thank you Cincinnati for all the good times, great attitudes and much needed rain after the dry season!

UC Pride!

“All staff were very helpful and willing to listen to everyones suggestions. Great people!”

Foot check and nail cutting at Diabetes clinic

“Everyone was helpful when we needed to talk about any issues, esp. Amy Schumer”

“No complaints! very glad I chose to work with HAH – great people and great missions. Inspiring!”

“A good exercise in medical altruism “outside the box”!”

“Very impressed with what STS is doing in Honduras”

What We Learned in Honduras

Administrator — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:26:38 +0000

A few words from the University of Wyoming brigade members and what they learned during their trip to the frontera:

1) A very small part of a beautiful language

2) The rule of unintended consequence

3) A view into a brand new culture

4) I can somewhat “rough it” in a tent

5) It is possible to form connections without speaking the same language

6) Why I continue to love world travel and experiencing new cultures and
countries

7) How to problem solve a little better

8) The value of non-verbal communication

9) To appreciate creativity and resourcefulness of others

10) A little kindness goes a long way

11) Development work is never as easy as it may seem

12) Relationships are more healing than band aids (or stickers)

13) How to be dirty and be “ok” with it

14) If there is nothing, people won’t fight over it; but add anything,
worthless or not, and they will

15) It I do ever adopt a child, I’ll have to consider a Honduran

16) One of the greatest sounds on earth is children laughing

17) Community should be community and not just where you hide out in your
home

18) Everyone can do something to help others

19) How much healing can be done without medicine…but Ben Gay helps

20) Most things that are appreciated by people are similar across cultural
lines

21) Honduras is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited

22) Honduran culture is one of the most unique and inspiring

23) People are more alike than different

Brigade members in the clinic

University of Wyoming (March 8-19th, 2012)

Administrator — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:28:04 +0000

Completing the first of their tri-annual trips to the frontera, the University of Wyoming left the snow and cold to come to their affiliate community of Agua Salada during the heat of the dry season. The brigade was comprised of 1 attending doctor, 2 residents, 1 nurse, a nurse practitioner student, an EMT, 7 nursing students, 2 engineers, an engineering student, and a social work student, all of whom added unique perspectives from every discipline. They spent their week hosting a clinic at the local Catholic church, educating students at local elementary schools about proper tooth brushing, hand washing, and sun protection, and teaching English to local students. They also did home visits for those patients who could not make it to the clinic and oversaw/ worked side by side the contractors on the new clinic. Excursions to local waterfalls, the Concepción market, and nightly games and reflections were also highlights of the trip. The clinic is well underway with the leech field done, the walls up, and the roof of one building complete. Hopefully, by the next brigade, the University will be camping on the clinic site rather than on the school grounds and classrooms of the local elementary school! The community of Agua Salada is excited about continuing the partnership with the University of Wyoming as the clinic progress moves forward!

An excursion to the Agua Salada waterfall

Working hard in the church clinic

The local students with their new shades after learning about sun protection

The future clinic

The group shot in front of the church

Some words from brigade members:

“I got so much more out of the trip than I had even hoped for.”

“Experience was outstanding. No complaints. The food, people, clinic, and building were all amazing.”

“Everything exceeded my expectations, I can’t wait to come back!”

Johns Hopkins in Santa Lucia (Nov 5 – Nov 19)

Administrator — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:48:31 +0000

Two fourth year medical students from Johns Hopkins were accompanied by Dr. Zuroweste and a translator for a two week stay in Santa Lucia. During their time here they saw 173 patients during daily paquete basicos and made ten house calls. They also met with 37 patients with hypertension or diabetes during three separate Hypertension and Diabetes Clubs. This new brigade activity is designed to educate patients about these chronic illnesses in addition to checking on their condition. The medical students took call a couple of nights and delivered a baby. During the weekend they swam at the Concepcion waterfall, visited the Magdalena market, entered El Salvador by crossing the Rio Torola, and did the traditional sunrise hike. In the evenings the group got together for a lecture on a tropical disease, a slideshow, or to talk about the local culture and Shoulder to Shoulder. They had a very productive and fun visit and the staff enjoyed getting to know this group.

Thomas examining a patient

Amanda visiting with patients

Swimming at the waterfall

A few comments from brigade participants:

“Very rewarding experience! My Spanish history taking improved. I learned about health care sustainability and improve in clinical and primary care skills”

“Brigade assistants made sure of directions everyday and supplies. Translator Carolina was AWESOME”

University of Wyoming Brigade (Nov. 12th- 20th, 2011)

Administrator — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:23:42 +0000

The University of Wyoming was a multidisciplinary group composed of nursing students, nurse practioners, a doctor, family medicine residents, pharmacy students, social workers, and engineers. They traveled to their community affiliate of Agua Salada, a community named for the spring of salty water that once emerged from the ground in the “city center”. They stayed in the local elementary school and ran clinic out of the local church. Over 400 patients were attended to in four and a half days, nursing students gave educational chats on various health topics, and many brigade members traveled to homes around the area to see patients. English classes were given to local students and several meetings took place with community leaders to learn more about the history of the community and its current needs. Several brigade members also worked alongside the local Hondurans to help build the new clinic, which is well underway! The land is now ready for the pipe installation and the goal is to have it finished by July. The community is very excited about the new clinic and will continue to work alongside the University of Wyoming in order to bring sustainable health care to Agua Salada!

Seeing patients in the local church

The construction site of the future clinic

Teaching English to local students

The whole group on the last day in Agua Salada

“Both of my trips have been amazing and wonderful learning experiences for the future- can’t wait for the clinic to be built!”

“All accommodations including housing, food, clinic, etc. were great! Thank you for a fabulous experience!”

“Exceeded my expectations and then some! It was such an amazing experience. I feel blessed to have been part of the brigade!”

MONTANA BRIGADE (November 5th-17th, 2011)

Administrator — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:23:44 +0000

The Montana Brigade of 15 members was comprised of 2 instructors, an advanced nursing student and 12 undergraduate nurses in their final semester. The group was comprised of members from different satellite campuses of Montana State University College of Nursing. They brought with them enthusiasm and energy while representing the Western Shoulder to Shoulder affiliates. Over the week and a half they had 512 encounters while visiting over 10 communities. They performed greatly needed tasks such as home visits, consults in our health centers and clinic, health fairs and the painting of a mural with scholarship students. We thank each and everyone of them for their service and hard work and wish them all the best as many of them will graduate in December.

Health Fair in Guaruma

Paquete Basico in Colomarigua

Weighing children in Santiago

House visits in Santiago

Sexual education and adolescence education talks with scholarship students

Enjoying the waterfall

The whole brigade

A few quotes from our brigade members about the experience:

“I am excited for the what Shoulder to Shoulder does. I am proud and thankful for an organization that facilitates cross cultural experiences that lead to providing a sustainable health improvement for the citizens of Honduras.”

“I enjoyed being in communities and providing care. I feel like I received a rural health experience.”

“Honestly. I thought I would learn a lot and have interesting experiences, but I never suspected that it would be a complete BLAST! I had so much fun and learned so much!”

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) @ Pinares (Oct 29 – Nov 10)

Administrator — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:09:49 +0000

The Virginia Commonwealth Brigade made its tri-annual (or ‘tranual’) journey to the frontera town of Pinares – approximately one hour from La Esperanza, Intibucá. The brigade was comprised of thirteen fourth year medical students, three third year residents and two family medicine attending physicians. In addition, we had five stellar translators (some old faces, some new ones): Josh, Alex, Daniel, Gus and Paulette.

VCU in Pinares is known for hiking out to rural villages in order to provide care, and their most recent brigade certainly embraced that tradition. The normal day entailed leaving one attending, one resident and a few medical students at the clinic to provide care, while the rest of the group trekked out to different villages in order to provide medical assistance as well as collect data for the CHI program. CHI clinics are usually set up at schools, where children progress through a variety of different stations (height/weight, hemoglobin, dental, medical, etc.).

During the weekend we spent a fantastic day at the Concepción market, as well as hiking around the clinic and, of course, a stop at the waterfall.

All in all it was a very positive brigade. The evaluations all demonstrated that each member had a unique, memorable and enriching experience with Shoulder to Shoulder (and that they loved their brigade assistant, of course).

The mandatory group photo - with clinic in background

Children's Health Initiative

Hiking out to do clinic at a school

“A great organization with welcoming, dedicated and engaged staff”

“Great trip! Would love to come back!”

University of Rochester (Oct. 21st- Nov. 4th, 2011)

Administrator — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:56:33 +0000

The University of Rochester brigade was comprised of 2 attendings, 7 residents, 2 medical students, and 1 social worker. They spent their two weeks stationed in their affiliate community of San Jose, San Marcos. Through furthering their relationships with the community, they also oversaw many projects. Several of these projects include latrine building, cookstove building, a scholarship program, a microfinance project, and fish farm building. Their trip was complete with many meetings as a means to support existing projects and to discern possible ways of expansion in the future. Brigade members also saw around 100 patients in the clinic, attended to patients through home visits, hiked to the neighboring community of Las Delicias to oversee a partnership there, met with the scholarship students, and traveled to local schools to do a project with the classes and to give a health talk about proper injury care. The brigade stayed at the local school and at the newly built volunteer house, both complete with beautiful views of the mountains and surrounding areas. Through all of their hard work, the University of Rochester has clearly had a positive influence in San Jose and this relationship will continue to foster change in the future!

A meeting for the scholarship students and their parents

One of the family fish farms in San Jose

One of the many beautiful sunsets with the volunteer house in the foreground

Brigade members in front of the health center

UC-Family Med/USC Brigade (October 8th-20th, 2011)

Administrator — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:30:42 +0000

This was a diverse brigade comprised of residents, attendings, an opthamologist, and nursing and medical students. There were also ten translators from La Ceiba who were excellent at their job and added lots of fun and energy to the group. Despite non-stop rain beginning the first workday, this brigade stayed optimistic and was able to accomplish many things. They provided field clinics at six locations in Magdalena, Santa Lucia, and San Antonio as well as took turn at the Santa Lucia clinic, ran a health fair, gave hypertension clubs, performed several cleaning operations, and went on home visits. A brave few went for a hike on Saturday and everyone participated in painting the dining and living space in the clinic. While they had to leave a day early to avoid worsening road conditions, everyone at Shoulder to Shoulder truly appreciated their energy and enthusiasm through out their stay.

On the move

Brigade members consulting with patients

Brigadeers working their magic at a field clinic

The group outside the Santa Lucia clinic

These are a few quotes from brigade members:

“Great team building, and a world-view changing experience”

“Everyone was warm and easy to approach”

“Everyone did a great job of helping to accommodate for changes in schedule.”

MAHEC/Lancaster, PA Brigade (August 6-18, 2011)

Administrator — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:48:23 +0000

The MAHEC/Lancaster Brigade came to Shoulder to Shoulder as a collaborative effort from programs in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Ashville, North Carolina. Full of diversity, the brigade was comprised of physicians, residents, medical students, pharmacists, one financial consultant and one nutritionist, as well as three younger students. The group set up camp in the church residence in Camasca center, where they received exceptional hospitality from the local people. This is the second brigade that has spent time in Camasca, further building the ever-developing relationship between Shoulder to Shoulder and one of Intibucá’s finest towns. Each day the group traveled to a different “aldea” – or regional village – in order to provide a bevy of medical services. They also did numerous home visits and educational talks. In addition, the group spent time within the Camasca community, working at the CESEMO as well as in the local high school. The extremely positive experience was capped off with a US vs. Honduras basketball game at the community court, arranged by our friends in the Peace Corps. All in all, the second brigade to Camasca went extremely well, and the relationship between Shoulder to Shoulder and Camasca continues to blossom.

Working within the community

Lounging about with the pastor