VCOM - Auburn 2018 Yearbook

Santa Rosa, Honduras

V COM-Auburn students, faculty and staff joined their counterparts from the VCOM-Carolinas campus July 1-8, 2017 for a trip to Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras. This opportunity was a remarkable and unforgettable experience for VCOM’s students, preceptors, staff members and volunteers to serve medically- underserved populations in and around the Santa Rosa, Honduras area. VCOM’s in-country partner, Mission UpReach, provided local transportation, logistical coordination and interpreters for the trip. This partnership also expands the geographical reach of VCOM medical outreach work even farther to include the mountainous, coffee-growing regions of Santa Rosa de Copán. For

many of the residents of these regions, this is the only opportunity for healthcare during the year. Over the course of the week, the medical team served approximately 300 pediatric, adult and elderly patients, and filled more than 652 pharmaceutical prescriptions. Medicines not used on the trip were donated toVCOM’s partner clinic, the James Moody Adams Clinic in Tegucigalpa. This is done as part of VCOM’s continuous care commitment to local residents and the international clinic network. Clinical activities in Santa Rosa included day trips to underserved areas in communities surrounding Santa Rosa de Copan. Regardless of the location, the group quickly assembled tents and

OMM tables to transform local community centers, schools and churches into temporary clinics. Outside of the clinic, the group enjoyed a cultural day at the Mayan Ruins. VCOM students were grateful for the opportunity to expand their medical experience. Preceptors had the chance to impart much of their knowledge and experience to the student doctors. The outreach trip was inspiring for all those who gave their time to meet the needs and make a difference for underserved communities in the Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras area.

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