Summer 2013 COM Outlook | NSU College of Osteopathic Medicine

8 COM Outlook . Summer 2013 do the survey, too. I found out many of them had pain in their hands. Most of the patients worked in farms, and dairy was one of their main sources of income. The etiol- ogy of conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome was mostly likely the daily milking of cows. One of the patients commented that he did not even milk that many cows. “I don’t even have many cows, only 20,” he said. He told us the name of the medication that had relieved his pain in the past, but explained that he had run out of it. Luckily, we had the medication and were able to provide him with some relief. This type of impact on the daily lives of the people we serve provides a better quality of life that makes a world of difference for these hard-working people. The final stop for most patients was the pharmacies, which were run seamlessly by our volunteer nurse prac- titioner, Cynthia Eiring, which allowed us to provide so much necessary medications and vitamins. The students learned the importance of carefully labeling the various pills, paired with the necessity of knowing how to explain the dosage and method of taking each medication to vari- ous people, including those who could not read. Surpris- ingly, patients were proac- tive about their health. In fact, many of them asked us to make sure to write every- thing in big letters so they could read it and do every- thing exactly as we said. The hospitality exhibited in Ecuador was extraordi- nary. Alongside three square meals and translators dou- bling as tour guides, we enjoyed various field trips. From visiting the equator and the artisanal villages to tours of Quito, the long and beautifully woven history of the region was thoroughly highlighted. The nature itself was its own attraction, inspiring long hikes through one tropi- cal valley or another to see many of the town’s waterfalls. Yet, even on the bus rides to these various locations and numerous adventures, the medicine that brought the group together was never forgotten, as Dr. Pathek kindly offered to lecture on the bus on relevant topics related to what we had recently learned on campus, and how it ap- plied in a clinical setting. From talking to people, translators, and each other, the Ecuador experience was positive not only for all of us who visited, but also for the people who expected a good level of care. They were able to address ques- tions, heal acute pain, and get instructions for care of chronic pain. Just as impor- tantly, these people who placed so much trust in us also helped us in innumerable ways. We were able to see the end game to all of our studying. We were inspired to keep going, to keep trekking through whatever the next couple of years brings, be it board exams or downpours of rain during a night hike. OMS-I Kristin Schumann echoed the thoughts of many of us when she said, “I feel so lucky to have gone on the medical outreach trip to Ecuador. The preceptors were so enthusiastic about teaching us, and I learned more about medicine in those nine days than I have in the past year of medical school,” she explained. “It really was the op- portunity of a lifetime. We worked hard every day and collapsed into bed every night, but we were always ready to get up and do it all over again the next day. Upon re- turning to the United States, we were happy to be home. Nonetheless, I was already thinking of the next trip and wondering what new things are yet to be seen around the world while helping the underserved.”