Allied Health Students, Faculty and Alumni Serve Villages in the Dominican Republic
Posted on February 4, 2025 by CAHP
Students, faculty and alumni from the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant Studies programs at the University of South Alabama traveled to Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic, in December 2024 through a study abroad program. This interprofessional clinical experience was the ninth trip taken to Juan Dolio in collaboration with the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama.
A team of 22 people including 11 students and eight licensed professionals traveled to remote villages and churches each day to serve patients with limited access to medical care. While there, the team served 190 patients and completed 714 volunteer hours serving the clinics.
The program fosters growth in healthcare professionals by immersing students in an interprofessional environment while also incorporating a Christian ministry aspect. Students from various healthcare disciplines work collaboratively, learning about each other’s roles and responsibilities while providing patient care.
The patients completed health screenings and later received medical care or rehabilitation care from students supervised by licensed professionals. The rehabilitation care included direct interventions that could be effective in one session and teaching realistic home exercises and activities with focus on anticipating necessary progression towards improvement. Patients also received care that included referral to local resources through a local partner agency.
Colby Hildestad, a physical therapy student, was amazed by the experience.
"It was awesome to have the opportunity to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus in the Dominican Republic, and we were able to help improve upwards of 200 individuals' lives,” Hildestad said. “We were able to hear the locals' testimonies, and share ours as well, and see how God was working in their lives. On top of it all, we were able to treat them without the headache involved with paperwork which made it so much easier to focus on the whole person instead of just what insurance would hypothetically pay us for!"
“The program helped students improve their communication skills, appreciate the value of every profession, and grow spiritually as they served others in a culturally diverse and resource-limited setting,” Dr. Shawn Drake, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, shared. “Because resources were limited, developing something out of nothing required critical thinking skills by the team.”
The patients ranged in age from children to older adults. Many had multiple musculoskeletal and orthopedic diagnoses including arthritis, scoliosis, back pain, rotator cuff, carpal tunnel and traumatic injuries.
Occupational therapy students had the opportunity to fabricate useful hand splints. Additionally, assistive devices for ambulation donated by Goodwill were put to good use and will help patients for years to come.
“I highly recommend students interested in learning in an interprofessional setting along with faculty and other clinicians to go on this trip,” Drake said.
Students can learn more about degree-specific study abroad opportunities by visiting the Study Abroad website.