UCF medical and nursing students will travel to San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic for an international medical service mission July 28 to August 4, to provide care and help address the medical needs of the impoverished region.

The goal of the trip is to create sustainable services, said Dr. Judy Simms-Cendan, the College of Medicine’s director of international experiences and associate professor of obstetrics-gynecology. With a focus on sustainability, the visit will include a series of unique steps:

  • The teams will use an electronic medical record system to record patient information so that patient care can be followed during subsequent trips. UCF medical student Bobby Palmer of the class of 2014 created the electronic system as part of his Focused Individualized Research Experience (FIRE).
  • The UCF team will be establishing longitudinal care, returning to the same cities every year to follow patients. “By building a consortium to provide lasting care in the area, we hope to link resources, share patient data, and establish an effective pool of care providers,” Dr. Simms-Cendan said.
  • The trip will be interdisciplinary, with medical and nursing students working together for a common cause.
  • UCF is establishing a lasting relationship with Universidad Catolica Nordestana — the medical school in San Francisco de Macoris — to facilitate outreach.
  • The team will take culturally tailored educational materials on topics such as wound care, accident prevention, nutrition education, and maternal health issues to improve the health literacy of patients in the country.

    • “The students attending this trip have an amazing opportunity to develop a sustainable health clinic, practice cultural competency, and serve a community in need,” Dr. Simms-Cendan said.

    However, the cost of providing high-quality healthcare for the thousands of patients served during the trip is approximately $800 per student. Those wishing to make a donation can send checks payable to MedPACt at UCF COM to Dr. Cendan at the college address, 6850 Lake Nona Blvd., Orlando, 32827.  Donations of vitamins and hygiene products would also be greatly appreciated.