Why participate?
- Go on an adventure
- Learn something new about yourself
- Make new friends
- Work with other healthcare professionals
- Improve your clinical skills
- Learn about a new culture
“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Help others and serve the underserved!
“In every community there is work to be done. In every nation there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it.” - Marianne Williamson
What do students have to say about their experiences?
“Health has no borders. Although some nations lack the infrastructure to provide their citizens with basic healthcare, the people of every nation deserve the opportunity to lead a healthy life. In addition to ensuring that all people have access to healthcare, education and prevention are fundamental to the health of any people. Every day, people around the world die from illnesses that are both preventable and treatable. It is critical that pharmacists strengthen their role not only as medication experts and stewards of the world’s medication supply, but as advocates for health education and disease prevention within local, national, and global communities. I strongly encourage students to take part in both international and local opportunities to serve underserved populations through medical outreach. Experiences such as participating in HOMBRE and RAM have helped me to develop my clinical skills, cultural competence, compassion, and confidence working on a multidisciplinary team.”
Holly Gurgle, Class of 2010, RAM 2008, HOMBRE 2008, IPSF SEP 2009
“The Remote Area Medical trip was an experience that most never have the opportunity to have. So many times we hear the statistics about uninsured or underinsured Americans, but going to RAM was the up close and personal reality of these numbers. Part of our duties as pharmacy volunteers was to take personal medication records and give limited counseling about those medicines. So often these patients with complicated drug therapies were rushed in and out of free clinics and had little known about how to take their medications. I really felt that talking to those people about how to properly take their medicines really made a difference in their health. Other pharmacy students should participate in this opportunity to help patients in areas such as Wise, VA that are outside of their comfort zone because those are the places with the most need.”
Jenni Witten, Class of 2010, RAM 2008
“I had no idea what to expect after signing up to volunteer at RAM. I knew that I would be going to an area in Southwest Virginia where many people live without health insurance and rarely get the chance to see a doctor or dentist. I wasn’t sure exactly what I would be doing there or how I would be able to help. It turned out that I helped transcribe medication histories, took blood glucose readings, and helped dispense the free medications the patients would be able to receive at RAM. My favorite part of the experience was taking medication histories, because I got to talk one-on-one with the patients and find out what disease states they had and if they were properly managed. It was so nice getting to know them and making sure they were on the right medications. By transcribing their medication history, the doctor and dentist who would see them later in the day knew exactly what they had been on and if they were being compliant with their medications. While some may think that taking medication histories is not be as important as diagnosing a patient or pulling out a patient’s infected tooth, I felt that I was definitely contributing to each patient’s health and well being by making sure they were informed about the medications they were on and how to properly take them.”
Lindsay Sanborn, Class of 2010, RAM 2008
“I really enjoyed working with people from other health professions. It was rewarding to calculate appropriate doses, work with doctors to make drug recommendations based available medications, and counsel incredibly grateful patients. The trip provided valuable cultural experiences, and it gave me a new perspective on international healthcare. The people, views, and food were absolutely amazing too!
Jennifer Padgett, Class of 2010, HOMBRE 2008
“My trip was a great experience. The undergrads from William and Mary and their professor were knowledgeable about the country, our hostel, and the community where we set up our free clinic. The doctors and other health care providers were a fantastic group to work with. I enjoyed getting to know everyone. The people who had been on the trip before gladly helped me order food at restaurants and buy souvenirs. Their previous experiences with which streets to walk down, the vernacular, and which restaurants served "clean food" were invaluable to the success of my trip. I mastered taking vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and rate), learned about tropical medicine, and was the Pharmacist on the last day of clinic. I enjoyed eating the Dominican food and traveling around Santo Domingo. The best part was becoming friends with the awesome Tribe students. We swapped stories, went to a concerts, bonded at the Plaza, and shared soap! I would recommend this experience to everyone. I hope to be able to have the time and money next year so that I can go again!”
Kathleen Hidalgo, Class of 2010, Dominican Republic 2009