VCOM View Magazine Vol. 14 | No. 1

Student Spotlight When Medicine Travels: How Serving Abroad Shaped Sydney’s Heart for International Service

by Danielle Voumard

I n the quiet morning hours in Verón, a town in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic, Sydney Boudreaux, VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2026, was already setting up for clinic. The air was heavy with heat, and a line of patients had begun to form outside the VCOM Verón Rural Clinic. Many had walked long distances, some for hours, just for a chance to be seen by a doctor. At the Centro de Atención Pediátrica Oscar de la Renta, a clinic offering pediatric services from preventive medicine to dentistry and emergency care, Sydney gently held the hand of a young boy receiving medical care. Although they did not share a language, her calm presence and kind touch helped ease his fear, making the moment a little less overwhelming.

Sydney was there as part of her international rotation through VCOM-Louisiana. For several weeks, she worked in clinics across rural parts of the Dominican Republic, including Verón and Punta Cana. Each day brought unfamiliar challenges, but also a sense of purpose that reaffirmed her commitment to medicine. VCOM international outreach offers a comprehensive program to address the healthcare needs of communities in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. There are two year-round international clinics where students and residents can attend a rotation that lasts between two and four weeks. Additionally, students can participate in a one week mission trip during their second year. Medical students have the opportunity to provide public

20 Student Spotlight