University of Southern Maine

News Releases

USM Students Make Medical Mission to the Dominican Republic

December 15, 2004

Twenty-six students from the University of Southern Maine and 24 volunteers are traveling to the Dominican Republic to set up health clinics in isolated rural areas and inner city barrios. The students and volunteers are scheduled to leave for the Dominican Republic on Sunday, January 2, 2005 and will return Sunday, January 16, 2005. USM students and volunteers will prepare for their journey by packing necessary supplies in late December.

Twice a year, nursing students, faculty, physicians, and health volunteers spend two weeks in the Dominican Republic providing personal care and health education to roughly 2,500 patients in 16 rural villages. Working out of huts, schoolrooms or chapels, the volunteers teach self-care, nutrition, dental hygiene and health education, and treat injuries, infection and other health problems with donated medical supplies they will bring with them.Ê

This is the 10th year that faculty, students and volunteers are making trips to the Dominican Republic. USM's College of Nursing and Health Professions established the service-learning program in 1994. This year, however, a trip is being jointly managed by the newly established Partners for Rural Health in the Dominican Republic, a private nonprofit organization, and USM.

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