I recently went on a medical mission trip hosted by Surgeons of Service to the Dominican Republic. Being my first medical mission trip, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Drs. Chris Menke and Allison Menke-Stinson, and their team were incredibly well organized, motivated, and efficient. The reason behind their motivation, unfortunately, is very clear. The area where we were based, Las Terrenas, is severely lacking in basic healthcare. Healthcare providers, medications, facilities, and other related resources are simply not available to the poor in this part of the Dominican Republic.
The Surgeons of Service team quickly set up medical clinics focusing on lower extremity injuries, deformities and disability. They had planned logistics well ahead of time and had been able to advertise our visit through connections that they have made from their previous medical missions there. These clinics sessions provided diagnosis, treatment and in some cases, planned follow-up for the citizens of Las Terrenas. Thanks to the pre-trip planning and communication, the clinics were organized and very well received, with lines out the door before we even arrived.
Medical clinics were complimented by preventative healthcare strategies such as delivering shoes to children and adults in need, which had been supported by months of shoe drive campaigns at home in the U.S.
I cannot say enough good things about Surgeons of Service. It was an honor to be able to work with them, and something that I plan to do in the future again.