“I come to volunteer at the clinic because these are my brothers and sisters,” then he looked at me and asked, “but why did you come?”

The 11-person team organized through Global Health Force united to help and serve the people of Haiti. On January 12, 2010, the people of Haiti were struck by a devastating 7.0 earthquake. Many countries responded to appeals for humanitarian aid, and dispatching rescue and medical teams. Our team traded the comfort of our homes, and even vacation time, to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We saw approximately 400-500 patients each day amongst the 7 providers. I enjoyed the autonomy of seeing patients without having to document on charts. I polished up on my history-taking and physical examination skills due to the lack of resources such as a computer, radiology or laboratory. This was a humbling experience. We clinically diagnosed malaria, secondary syphilis, rectal prolapse, dysentery, and so much more. Read the rest of this entry »