Virginia Via Research Day Book 2026

Medical Student Research Public Health

12 AN IMPACT ANALYSIS OF VCOM MEDICAL MISSION TRIPS TO PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Brendan Raville, OMS-4; Dylan Carlson, OMS-3; Brian Dickens, DO Corresponding author: braville@vt.vcom.edu

VCOM-Virginia, Blacksburg, Virginia

increased in frequency with age, which points to a cumulative burden of chronic disease and age-related degeneration. The most common concerns for the total population were Head/Eyes/ Ears/Nose/Throat (HEENT), general checkups, and gastrointestinal issues. Conclusions : Analysis of medical mission trips shape our understanding of how to best address the needs of our target population. This study serves to improve the quality of future trips by using our findings to inform better preparation and education concerning the most encountered conditions and patient archetypes on mission trips to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Background/Context: Short term medical mission trips play an important role in support of low resource communities and the education of medical students as they participate in these outreach services. Mission trips sponsored by The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) to the Dominican Republic serve these aims for a population that lives with health inequalities due to poverty levels, lack of physician access, and challenges to adherence to medication regimens. Objectives: To describe the demographic breakdown of those served on medical mission trips in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. To report the most frequent diagnoses made per patient population as well as the differential between chief concerns and diagnoses reported.

Methods: Patient records from two week-long missions to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic were analyzed with respect to demographic information of patients treated as well as a comparison of chief concerns and diagnoses made. This study was approved by the VCOM IRB, Protocol 2024-031. Results: A total of 972 patients were treated, with a majority identified as female and almost 45% being pediatric patients. The number females and males treated was more different as age increased, and there were significantly more genitourinary concerns noted among women of reproductive age. Increased age was additionally correlated with more concerns at presentation, more diagnoses made, and a higher diagnosis to concern differential. Specific diagnoses such as musculoskeletal and cardiac conditions

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26 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)