I went on the IGH program to the Dominican Republic during spring break 2023 with a group of 20 other first- and second-year medical students at MSUCOM and five faculty members. While I have visited and worked in other Latin American countries; I knew very little about the Dominican Republic before this program. The Dominican Republic shares a rich history with Haiti and as a result, there are many sugar cane plantations, also known as “bateyes,” where generations of Haitian migrant workers live. These communities historically have very little access to healthcare.

During our program, we visited three of these bateyes, partnering with a Dominican medical school to set up day clinics. Each of these clinics consisted of a triage area, a pharmacy, and an indoor space we used to see patients. This was an enriching experience as a first-year medical student because I was able to apply what I had just learned in the classroom to the field. Students partnered together to take a full history and physical exam of the patient. We then presented the cases to the attending physicians who would tell us what follow up tests to perform and determined a treatment plan. This opportunity allowed me to build confidence in my physical exam skills and feel comfortable working in a chaotic environment. Furthermore, I gained confidence in my Spanish language skill. While I have studied Spanish for many years and am proficient in speaking, I was never confident enough to translate medically. However, due to the lack of interpreters on this program, I spoke directly with the patients. Due to the Haitian culture inthese bateyes, many of the patients only spoke Creole. So, there were times when there would be a Creole-Spanish and Spanish-English translator.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in the Dominican Republic. I learned a great deal about the country’s history, culture, and medical system. My favorite part about the program was working alongside medical students and interpreters from the Dominican Republic. The students and faculty were all amazing, and I hope to return next year!

NOTE: The photo I submitted shows me playing with the children at the clinic. Some of the students brought bubbles and stickers, so we would take breaks to play with the children.

Name: Melissa Xu
Status: Medical Student
Major: Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Program: Global Health: Dominican Republic - Clinical Immersion