VCOM - Virginia 2016 Yearbook

El Salvador

El Salvador is regaled for its yearly food festival, “Carnival of San Miguel,” that highlights flavors showcased at daily markets.

V COM’s health initiative in El Salvador began with a mobile unit visiting remote villages and children’s homes, and evolved into a partnership with the El Salvador Ministry of Health, the Evangelical University Medical School, and AMILAT foundation, establishing a four-story medical clinic known as the Shalom Medical Center. This state-of- the-art clinic is equipped with a pediatric suite, primary care services, prenatal services, a laboratory and a pharmacy. VCOM also developed a partnership with the Decameron Resort to provide primary medical care for low-resource

The Saldana Hospital is another partner in the region where VCOM students rotate while in the area. Outreach Trips 2015-2016 In December 2015, 14 VCOM– Virginia students, along with 15 students from the Carolinas campus, traveled to El Salvador for a one-week medical outreach trip. The rest of the outreach team included VCOM staff and rotation students, as well as five physicians, two pharmacists and several volunteers. During the trip, nearly 300 pediatric and adult patients in community clinics, orphanages and schools received medical attention through VCOM’s longitudinal and sustainable community health program. The team provided parties for the children at the orphanages,

complete with piñatas, snacks and a variety of gifts donated by members of the VCOM community. Adults experiencing vision problems lined up with delight for their chance to be fitted with reading glasses the team brought along. Thirty students from the Graduate Premedical Certificate Program traveled on January 3, 2016, to El Salvador for a one-week service trip. Over the course of the week, the team led public health educational modules for children and conducted extensive household surveys with nearly 100 adults. These activities are an essential component of the program lead by Brian Hill, PhD, Dean for Graduate Certificate Premedical Program, and Dean Sutphin, PhD, Vice Provost of International Outreach.

students of the Sonsonate Primary School and their

families. Additionally, VCOM’s faculty and students teach an annual First Responder Training workshop for resort employees.

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