VCOM 2020 Annual Report

INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH

DOMINICANREPUBLIC

Verón Primary Care Clinic PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

T he VCOM-affiliated Verón Primary 200 patients a day while serving a local population that exceeds 60,000. The clinic was launched in 2006 and is a collaborative partnership among VCOM, the Punta Cana Foundation and the government of the Dominican Republic. A collaborative partnership with the Appalachian School of Pharmacy provides the Verón Clinic with a full-time pharmacist and allows the clinic to serve as a site for six pharmacy students on international rotations. The Appalachian School of Pharmacy shares resources with the nearby hospital, continuing medical education with in-country physicians and yearly first responder and Basic Disaster Life Support training for local emergency responders and resort employees. The Verón Clinic, which operates year-round, offers primary care, emergency care, HIV/ AIDS detection and treatment, prenatal and women’s health care, ultrasound and Care Clinic in the Dominican Republic provides regular care to approximately

laboratory services to the local community, many of whom are uninsured. The Verón Clinic provides experiences for 40 VCOM students annually, along with residents. 2019 Clinic enhancements include: • A new ambulance from Canadian Rotary to support both pediatric and primary care centers • An HIV program providing treatment and counseling to patients • An Emergency department available for the Verón community and its surroundings

Left to right: Paul Beswick, Director of the Punta Cana Foundation, provides in-country support for VCOM and the Verón Clinic; Dulfelina Cruz, MD, Director at Verón Primary Care Clinic; Alexandra Amador, MD, Sub-Director for OB-GYN at Verón.

69