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Studеntѕ tоgеthеr wіth fасultу frоm thе Unіvеrѕіtу оf Sоuth Alаbаmа Cоllеgе оf Mеdісіnе lаtеlу раrtісіраtеd іn а mеdісаl mіѕѕіоn trір tо Wеѕt Afrіса. |
On a hot twenty-iv hr menstruation inward June, Madeline Tucker placed the tip of a stethoscope on a immature daughter’s breast as well as listened to what she’d lone heard inward a recording played inwards the classroom – the “whoosh, whoosh” of a ticker murmur.
Tucker, a rising instant-yr medical pupil, was inwards West Africa, an bounding main away from her classroom at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine inwards Mobile. “I’d never heard it on a existent mortal earlier,” she said.
Tucker relayed her findings to a doc on the medical mission trip, who confirmed the diagnosis, which could alive attributed to a diverseness of causes, including anemia. “It was rewarding to meet things you’ve learned most come up well-nigh inward existent life,” she said.
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Mеdісаl ѕtudеntѕ Blаkе Dunаwау tоgеthеr wіth Jеѕѕіса Phаm wоrk іnwаrdѕ а tеmроrаrу lаb. |
The 11-mean solar day trip, organized by the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama, included 26 participants, 16 of whom were medical students who had just completed their starting quaternary dimension yr of studies at the USA College of Medicine.
“Having our students participate inwards medical missionary trips such as the recent 1 to West Africa allows them to hone these 4th dimension-honored scientific subject sets inwards an environs much different than their daily ane,” said Dr. Kelly P. Roveda, associate dean of pupil affairs at the USA College of Medicine. “Additionally, these trips render students firsthand exposure as adept as a glimpse into the existent world of wellness tending disparity.”
The mission team laid upwardly a hospital inward a village inward West Africa, bringing wellness attending ii hours closer to local residents. They organized stations for triage, medicine, lab, chemist’s, optometry and physical therapy. The grouping also distributed toys as well as clothes to children.
“They were and then thankful that we came,” said Tucker, who was raised inward Scottsboro, Ala. “The feel opened my eyes to the lack of access to wellness attending inward some parts of the globe.”
The austerity of the living atmospheric condition – no running H2O or modern toilets – was challenging to the students inwards improver to gave them an chance to bond with each other, she said. “I’d never been on a strange medical mission trip, in addition to then I didn’t really know what to expect. I came dorsum amongst clinical experience inward improver to also an appreciation of what I concur,” she said.
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From left, Kait Pardue, Madeline Tucker, Dr. Rebecca Sollie inwards add together-on to physical therapist Jennifer Melancon environs a patient who rесеіvеd а nеw wаlkеr tоо rеаdіng glаѕѕеѕ. |
It was also the first medical mission trip for Dr. Rebecca Sollie, an assistant professor and assistant clerkship director in USA’s Department of Family Medicine. She expressed, “It is a wonderful opportunity for medical students to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their training in a more independent setting than they may experience during their clerkship rotations. It was especially rewarding to see their skills and confidence grow as they made a noticeable difference in their patients’ lives.
The chance to join medical missions was one of the reasons that brought Tucker to the USA College of Medicine after graduating in biomedical sciences and Spanish from Auburn University. She’s also a legacy; both of her parents earned medical degrees here inward 1991.
