February 12, 2003

Contact:
Jennifer Meriam, Director (954) 262-5355
Mike Laderman, Associate Director, (954) 262-5354
Mara Kiffin, Coordinator, (954) 262-5350

NSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine Sponsors Medical Mission to Guatemala

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—On February 21, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-COM) and DOCARE International will be partnering in a two-week humanitarian effort to provide health care services to remote areas of Guatemala.

A volunteer medical contingent comprising 50 Florida-based health care specialists, 35 NSU-COM students, and 15 physician assistant students will return to the region to participate in Medical Mission 2003 to Guatemala-the college's sixth medical mission to Guatemala over the past three years.

During the mission, participants will spend the first week treating Mayan villagers in the southwestern highland area of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, followed by another week working with a new group of patients in the country's northern rainforest region that are in desperate need of medical assistance. Because the humanitarian excursion is volunteer-based, the 100 participants are responsible for all incurred expenses, including airfare, food, and lodging.

"We expect to see some diversity in the types of illnesses for the two very different geographical areas and Mayan tribes," said Camille Bentley, D.O., an assistant of family medicine at NSU-COM who coordinates the college's medical missions to Guatemala.

"We expect to treat about 2,000 patients on this trip. We also will return the end of June with about 20 medical students to provide our continued care for our patients at Lake Atitlan."

If you would like to learn more about Medical Mission 2003 to Guatemala, please contact Camille Bentley, D.O, assistant professor of family medicine, at (954) 262-1451 or Scott Colton, director of education communications, at (954) 262-5147.