VCOM - Auburn 2018 Yearbook

Richa Thakkar

Trip Participant | Class of 2020

“ The El Salvador mission trip far exceeded all of my expectations! To begin, the coordinators were incredible. They always made sure we were comfortable, satisfied, and that we didn’t get sick from consuming any questionable food or water. Also, the clinic site at every location was extremely organized and easy to maneuver in. There were always enough doctors and

students to help if we ever got stuck on a patient’s diagnosis or had any questions. I gained plenty of medical knowledge from this trip, especially since I have no prior experience working in a hospital or clinic. I used to get nervous about minor tasks such as asking a patient their HPI and taking vitals, but after this trip I am confident I can complete

both of those with ease. My favorite part about the trip was that we were rotated among the doctors every day, which allowed us to learn the different styles of each doctor in terms of bedside manner, how to come up with a differential diagnosis and how to interact with patients and their family members. I loved this trip and I would recommend that every student go on at least one during their first two years at VCOM! ”

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