The Students International Medical Outreach Club, part of NSU’s College of Medicine, has extended its services of providing medical and humanitarian aid to more developing countries. The IMOC now provides aid to Argentina, Bangladesh and Jamaica, adding to Peru and Ecuador.
Belinda Collias, second-year medical student and president of IMOC, said the expansion began when Robin Jacobs, Ph.D., professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, became the head of international programs in 2010. Jacobs has been able to set up numerous connections with health care organizations in different countries.
“There’s so much need and so many diverse experiences we can have that benefit both the patient and our students,” said Collias. “The students get a more worldly view, and the preceptors teach us and donate their skills to help the patients.”
Chelsey Sawiko, third-year medical student, said she loves that IMOC is expanding its programs to more countries.
“International medicine is a wonderful thing to be involved in and NSU’s IMOC is doing a great job of promoting it. The more good we can do for other people, the better, so why not expand outreach trips to as many different locations as possible?” said Swaiko.
Swakio, who went to Piura, Peru in Dec. 2010, said volunteering with the program is an awesome experience no matter which country you choose.
The trips consist of about 25-30 students and physicians depending on how many volunteer physicians attend the trip. For every doctor, two medical students are able to go.
Trips are scheduled twice a year during spring break and winter break. Three trips were made to Peru, Argentina and Bangladesh this past winter break and one trip is scheduled for Ecuador during this year’s spring break.
Collias said the participants’ job is to provide primary care to the people in different villages.
“Basically, we do primary care like an outpatient clinic. It depends on if we have a specialist who comes with us, who can treat those cases,” she said.
Collias also said the program is founded on the premise of reaching as many people as possible. She said it’s a cultural exchange, and they often keep in touch with the patients and hosts after they leave. One student put together a fundraiser to raise money for a girl with a heart murmur. The student raised enough money, and the girl was able to have the surgery.
“It opens a lot more opportunities to do even more and take the program beyond the week of volunteering,” said Collias.
IMOC provides an opportunity for students to experience a new country and to treat patients from a different culture.
“We get to see the challenges other countries go through and see how medical care differs from country to country. You get an idea of how medicine is practiced without the technology we are accustomed to having here. It’s a good opportunity for students to think outside of the box,” said Collias.
Swaiko said it is important for students to get away from the small, concentrated world of studying and exams. They can explore a little bit and go on an adventure, while still being able to practice medicine and help people at the same time.
For more information on NSU’s College of Medicine Students International Medical Outreach Club contact nsuimoc@gmail.com or Jacobs at rjacobs@nova.edu.
