Final Reflection

This past week was incredible.  It is always great to travel outside the U.S., but traveling to a Spanish-speaking country and having the ability to practice your Spanish makes traveling even more challenging and fun.  I am in no way fluent in Spanish now, but I do feel a bit more confident in my ability to converse with someone in Spanish (including medical problems).  

This trip was also great because I thought we had the perfect amount of independence and oversight.  I didn't feel like Dr. Rothschild or Anna were micromanaging me, but they were always there to provide help.  I think this was something great to have at the beginning of my medical career (OK, I finally accept and embrace it).  I really feel like I have grown as a physician over the past week. 

Finally, it is incredible to see the efforts local communities are making in providing healthcare to all of their citizens.  Las Lomas was probable the most impressive and obvious example of this. The community had built an entire clinic (including pharmacy) and there was a dedicated physician that sees patients every day of the week.  This is something that was not always available in Las Lomas and is not available in many neighboring towns.  It is great to see a community become self-sufficient.

Alfredo said something earlier in the week at our orientation that I found very interesting.  He said how the best thing that can happen is that Endeavor and Rush are no longer needed in a community.  That means the community has found ways to become self-sufficient and they have found resources to be able to empower themselves.  I hope to continue to do global health trips in the future, but it would be incredible if fewer communities need us in the future.

Other things I learned: 

1. Dominicans are very passionate about dominoes

2. Everyone in the DR has gripe (a cold)

3. Patient are grateful for any help that you can give them

4. If a family shows up, almost 100% of the time you will end up examining everyone in the family

5. It is possible to survive one week without consistent WiFi, even in 2015

6. Santo Domingo is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the New World.  It was actually founded by Bartholomew Columbus, the younger brother of Christopher Columbus.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Mohit