VCOM View Magazine Vol. 14 | No. 1

regarding healthcare. Sydney found that being respectful and open made all the difference. “You’re in someone else’s space. It’s important to listen and try to understand what matters most to them,” she “ “You’re in someone else’s space. It’s important to listen and try to understand what matters most to them. That’s how you build trust. That’s how you give better care.” — Sydney Boudreaux , VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2026

Sydney and her peers, under licensed supervision by physicians, treated patients with a wide range of needs, from children with infections to older adults with unmanaged chronic conditions. Many were experiencing health care for the first time in a long while, and their gratitude left a lasting impression. “You could feel how much it meant to people,” she said. “It reminded me why VCOM puts so much emphasis on working in rural and underserved areas. We weren’t just learning. We were helping.” Through international outreach, students develop cultural sensitivity and skills to address significant health challenges that span borders and continents, working with VCOM faculty and local physicians in these regions. Cultural understanding played a major role in her day-to-day work. Each community she served had different customs, beliefs, and expectations

Sydney Boudreaux at work during her rotation in the Dominican Republic.

22 Student Spotlight