VCOM - Auburn 2017 Yearbook

Dominican Republic | Punta Cana

The Dominican Republic is known for its pristine beaches, as well as rain forests, savannas and highlands. T he VCOM Verón Rural Clinic in the Dominican Republic

faculty members attended this mission trip, and traveled daily by bus to various temporary clinics in schools and churches. Approximately 420 patients were seen in four different clinics. Patients needing further care were assigned to a local doctor for follow-up. “This trip gave me the opportunity to turn nearly two years of what seemed like continuous exams into real-life clinical experience,” said Chet Wilson, a class of 2019 student. “This trip not only improved my clinical skills as a future physician, but also reminded

me of my passion for this career path,” Wilson added. “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to travel, explore and learn so much about medicine and patient care from such a unique setting and point of view,” said Chelsea Angelocci, another class of 2019 student. “The magic of this trip was seeing every level of our extended VCOM family working together for the benefit of the Dominican people,” said trip leader J.J. White, DO, VCOM- Auburn Chair for Emergency Medicine. “This is just one example of what makes our medical missions and international outreach program so special,” White added.

provides medical care for an impoverished community with a surrounding population of approximately 60,000. The clinic was launched in 2006 through a partnership among VCOM, the Punta Cana Foundation and the Secretary of Public Health and Social Assistance in the Dominican Republic. Students and faculty from VCOM-Auburn completed their first medical mission trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in January of 2017. Thirty-eight students and

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