The Sacred Valley – Peru

From August 5 – August 10, eleven York PA students, 1 chiropractic student, and 1 certified PA worked in a clinic in the Peruvian countryside to provide healthcare for those who often do not have access. These remote villages are often too far away from medical centers, creating a large healthcare barrier for a number of people. With the help of FNE International, non-profit organization based in Boston, I organized and created a global outreach project comprising mainly the students of CUNY York College.

As students, we diagnosed and treated patients under the supervision of a certified PA. Most patients suffered from osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, parasitic infections (pinworm), anemia, and ophthalmologic conditions (cataracts, severe pterygium/pinguecula). We raised over $4000 and were able to hire translators, Peruvian physicians, and acquire medical equipments (gloves, medications, injections, needles, syringes, etc).

This medical service trip has changed my outlook on patient care. I strive to continue to provide accessible, quality healthcare to all by organizing and attending more medical service trips in the future.