Over winter break eight nursing students of the Purcell School of Professional Studies, seven undergraduate and two graduate students and two faculty members—embarked on a service trip in Belize City from Jan. 1 to Jan. 15.

The two-week trip was led by nursing chair Dr. Margaret [Meega] Wells and Dr. Chad Corcoran of the biology department. The mission of the trip was to conduct medical service trips in the surrounding Belize City area.

Students did screenings and educated community members at a diabetic clinic, blood pressure screenings on faculty members and educated students at a local high school in Belize City. While there they also accompanied doctors and nurses of the Mercy Clinic on home visits.

“It was incredible to work with doctors during home visits,” said Kaylyn Woodrick, one of the nine students that went on the trip. “The doctor and nurse worked as a unique team assessing and treating the patient as co-providers.”

Clinical sites counted towards community health clinical hours for the seven undergraduate students.

Aside from working and educating, the group went zip lining through the rain forest, cave tubing, snorkeling in the Mesoamerican Reef off the coast of San Pedro, and explored the Mayan Ruins.  

“The experience definitely opened our eyes to the differences, both medical and cultural, between the U.S. and Belize. There are so many vast differences in our healthcare systems,” stated senior Kaylyn Woodrick.