Pharmacy students Amber Altstadt and Jordan Wolf spent 10 days in Guatemala this summer as part of medical mission team.

The team, including two physicians, three medical students, a nurse and dental assistants, treated 2,631 patients between the villages of Quetzaltenango (commonly known as Xela), San Vicente Pacaya, San Rafael Pacaya, Magnolia and Chuatuj. From June 27 to July 2, they provided 38 referrals for more serious conditions, extracted 219 teeth, restored 45 teeth and provided 1,139 fluoride treatments to children. 

The team set up makeshift clinics in churches and schools. Common conditions they saw ranged from malnutrition and anemia, headaches and musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal upset and heartburn, to hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, and acute infection and injury.

In all, Altstadt, Wolf and pharmacy faculty member Amy Werremeyer, who accompanied them on the trip, filled 1,625 prescriptions. They also evaluated prescriptions (ensuring accurate dosing and appropriate use), counseled patients and administered injections.

Altstadt and Wolf say the experience was an invaluable opportunity to apply the skills they have gained during the past five years in a diverse setting. They brought home many life lessons, like learning how to overcome language and cultural barriers, dealing with limited resources, working as a member of a collaborative healthcare team and recognizing their personal strengths and weaknesses.

They encourage support from the community and encourage all departments across campus to do something similar within their specific disciplines.

“It has motivated us to become better clinicians and to learn more this year. We understand that we aren’t ready to be the type of provider that the community needs … we have something to work toward, to become better for a purpose greater than ourselves,” Wolf said.