Provision of Healthcare While we were in the hospital, we had a chance to go on round and to treat patients with the local doctors. During our time rounding the hospital, we checked on patients' progress and we comforted them and their family. For several days, we worked in the outpatient clinics where we diagnosed and treated patients with the doctors at the hospital. Through our services, we had the opportunity to see the diseases that we learned in the class room. We saw many infectious diseases such as malaria, pharyngitis, and stomach infection. We also encountered chronic diseases like heart valves problems, hypertension, and diabetes, and many motorcycle accidents. Chronic diseases are expensive to treat; thus, patients with low economic status were unable to seek adequate treatments.
Donation of Medicine
During our interaction with the patient, we provided them with vitamins especially to the children. We donated the medicine to Nha Trang Red Cross to be used in their free clinics. The Red Cross had several free clinics in Nha Trang to provide free healthcare and medicines. The clinics were funded through generous donations and with the limited resources, they could only open three days a week. All the staffs in these clinics were volunteers and they were very friendly to the patients.
Hosting Educational Programs
The educational programs spread out into two days. On the first day, we taught the kid programs in the pediatric ward and the adult programs (included malaria, TB, and HIV) in the inpatient center. On the second day, we did the rest of the adult programs, which included first aid, nutrition, and occupational health.Our educational programs were successful. There were about 70 participants for adults and for kids. The patients were very attentive and interactive with questions and concerns. To make sure they understood the program, we asked questions and played games that aim toward the main points of the lessons. The hospital has requested to use our programs so that they could teach them to other patients in the future.
Conducting Health Survey
The survey was conducted by having our team members and our translators approached the patients and/or patients' family members to tell them about our team and the purpose of the survey. No informed consent was required for the patients to participate into the study. After the patients agreed to join the study, we then passed them the survey and helped them to fill out the survey if they had problems with reading Vietnamese. During our time at the hospital, we were able to gather approximately 150 surveys. The data are currently being analyzed and will be announced once it is done.
2007 Mission Activities Timeline This information represents the activities of each day from the time we arrived in Nha Trang until we left the city. June 19th Arrived in Nha Trang and prepare vitamins to pass out to patients. June 20th Met and greeted the director of the hospital and the head of each department. Tour the hospital in the morning. Split into groups for the impatient ward and the pediatric department. Teams take rounds and greeted patients from both hospital sections. Vitamins are dispersed in the process. Teams had opportunities to view patient history to gain a better understanding of each individual's progress. June 21st, June 22nd Began seeing patients. We worked with local doctors at the outpatient centers to see patients. Here the students had the opportunity to ask history and do physical examination under the doctors' guidance. The final diagnosis and treatment must be cleared by the local doctors. At these centers, we continued to give out vitamins for both adult and children. We also started the health survey for the people at the centers. June 23rd Hospital Closed. Teams took rounds in the post-surgical and pediatric wards. June 24th, June 25th Continued seeing patients. Repeat of June 21st - June 22nd. June 26th Built future contact and performed educational program. Visited the Vietnamese Red Cross clinics, learned about their program, and donated medicines and medical supplies to the Vietnamese Red Cross. Host educational programs: Kid programs, Malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV programs for adult. To conclude the event, everyday items were distributed to participants such as oral hygiene supplies(toothbrush, toothpaste) and toys(for the kids). June 27th Visited rural village to continue promoting education program. Visited Ngoc Diem village. Met with the people and its community. Host educational adult programs- Nutrition, occupational health, and first aid. We also gave out gifts.
Team Member Profile
Anne Chau Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2010 University of Houston, TX B.S in Biology
I like to learn about Public Health to understand the reality of health care disparities in rural areas and in developing countries. Coming from Vietnam, I understand the lack of resources in the healthcare system to meet the demand of the people. It is always my desire to come back there and do something to help the people. Being on this trip not only give me an opportunity to help patients in Viet Nam, but it also provide me a great way to meet new people.
Sanda Constantinidi Pediatrics School of Medicine of Medico-Pharmaceutical Doctor of Medicine Private practice, Greenville Medical Center Inc., Greenville PA, USA. P.L I & II in Pediatrics at Waterbury Hospital Health Center, Waterbury CT, USA. Principle Physician, General Medicine Pediatrics, Hospital for Children. "Cotroceni", Bucharest, Romania. Medical Missions Kenya, Africa Uganda, Africa Guatemala City, Guatemala
Huy Do Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2010 University of Maryland, Baltimore County B.A. in Modern Languages and Linguistics
I came to the U.S when I was 10 years old. My family and I encountered many difficulties because we did not understand the American culture and the language. It was a challenge to get through that period, and for me, I am glad that I went through those experiences because they made me realize the mind-set of those who are in need for help. This was one of the factors that contributed to my decision to become a physician. I went to University of Maryland, Baltimore County and chose languages and linguistics as my major because I wanted to learn more about cross-cultural communication. During my undergraduate education, I was involved with many activities which included being president for VSA, being a residential assistant, being orientation peer advisor, and involving with research. After graduation, I continued with my education at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where I am current a 2nd year medical student. My involvement so far in medical school includes being co-coordinator of the Viet Nam Medical Assistance Program and co-chair for the Global Health Committee at my school. For my future goal, I want to pursue a combined residency program in both pediatrics and internal medicine
Keli Donnelly Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2010 Guilford College, Greensboro, NC May 2002 B.S. in Health Science and Athletic Training
A semester abroad in college taught me that the world is much larger than the small social circle that up until that time had held me and defined me. A visit to Viet Nam has the opportunity to once again enlarge my circle of family and help me to see medicine in a broader, social context. I'm currently a first year student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and hope to pursue a career in family and sports medicine. Monica Kanal Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2010 College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia) 2004 Drexel University School of Public Health (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) 2006
(1)Master's in Public Health (MPH) Environmental and Occupational Health (2)B.S. in NeuroscienceI moved to Philadelphia to obtain my Master's degree. My public health interests include infectious disease, occupational injury and disease, and community health and education. I am currently a first year medical student. I am pursuing a track in internal medicine, and I plan on doing preventive education with my patient populations to reduce the incidence of disease and injury.
David Kuwayama Surgery Princeton University Harvard Medical School Doctor of Medicine in 2002 University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1997
Despite being born and raised outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but I spent most of my adult life living overseas and in various locations along the eastern seaboard of the United States. I am currently on a three year sabbatical from the general surgical residency program at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. I spent the first year of the sabbatical working as a surgeon in rural Haiti for Paul Farmer's organization, Partners in Health. During the final two years, I am attending Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, where I hopes to learn more about the strategies that medical NGOs use to provide surgical services in infrastructure-poor environments.
Maria Michaels Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (1)B.S. in Biology, (2) B.S. in Pychology (Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School -- MBA in Nonprofit Management, expected graduation December 2008 Certified Clinical Research Professional -- Clinical Research Program Manager, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD.
My first medical mission to Haiti in 2001 opened my eyes to the extent of medical need in the third world. While coordinating this medical student-run effort, my teammates and I executed a successful mission through hard work and perseverance, but we all felt an organization which could guide us in coordinating such a mission would have been helpful. After a bit of soul-searching, I took a leap of faith and decided to change my career path to starting an organization that focuses on helping medical students organize and execute medical missions. To give my nonprofit idea a better chance at succeeding, I am learning the business side of NGOs via a MBA in Nonprofit Management. I have also continued my interest in medical research through my current work as clinical research program manager in surgical oncology at Johns Hopkins. I look forward to learning more about the Vietnamese community we will be part of during this medical mission. I hope our team not only helps with the acute medical needs of the people of Khanh Hoa but that we also leave a lasting legacy through health education programs.
Kim-Huong Thi Nguyen Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2010 Muhlenberg College; Allentown, PA B.S. in Biology
My family immigrated to the United States in the early 80's to Allentown, PA; the place where I was born and raised. I am currently a first-year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. I am currently interested in pediatrics, but I am also keeping an open mind until I am further exposed to other areas of medicine.
Nguyen K. Nguyen Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine University of Maryland, Baltimore County B.S. in Biochemistry
I am currently a 2nd year graduate student at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine pursing a Ph.D. degree with a focus on breast cancer research. Coming to the United States in 2001, my journey began with ESL classes at Montgomery College where I patiently worked toward my dream of being a person who will bring better healthcare to the people around me. Five year later, after graduating from UMBC in 2006, I decided to pursue a career in biomedical research which I believe will provide me with the opportunity to fulfill my dream of bringing better health to many people. Besides my focus on school work, I believe in community services and work toward promoting leadership and communication in the youth. Therefore, Huy and I co-coordinate the Viet Nam Medical Assistance Program (VNMAP) with the goals of providing medical assistance to the poor and the minorities in the rural areas of Viet Nam and creating a training and learning environment for the team members. We hope VNMAP's activities will help promote leadership and community service spirit among college and professional students. "Hold fast to DREAMS..."
Anna Thai University of Maryland, College Park B.S. in Neuroscience/Physiology
My family immigrated to the United States in the early 80's to Allentown, PA; the place where I was born and raised. I am currently a first-year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. I am currently interested in pediatrics, but I am also keeping an open mind until I am further exposed to other areas of medicine.
Jason Winkler Drexel College of Medicine Doctor of Medicine, Class of 2010 Muhlenberg College; Allentown, PA B.S. in Biology
I'm a first year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine who is interested in pediatric medicine. Over the years I have been actively involved with a variety of volunteer organizations in my local community. Some of my most recent activities include assisting technicians in the microbiology lab of Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, New York, providing free tutoring to students in biology and chemistry through Muhlenberg College's Peer Tutoring Service, and working this past summer with Habitat for Humanity to build a house for a Louisiana family left homeless in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Currently, I am volunteering in the Emergency Room of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia where I play games and do arts and crafts with patients from mostly poor families as they wait in triage. Although my volunteer experiences have provided me with the opportunity to become well acquainted with many domestic issues (e.g., homelessness and poverty), I am less familiar with the details surrounding those issues present in other areas of the world, more specifically in developing nations. By volunteering in Vietnam this summer, I hope to gain a better understanding of these issues while providing relief and education to the local population.
