Description

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Trip Overview

• Destination: La Romana, Dominican Republic
• Dates: May 24 – May 31, 2025
• Objective:
  • Provide primary healthcare, urgent referrals, and follow-up care for residents of Bateys outside Punta Cana.
  • Offer dental care, food aid, and community service based on local needs.
  • Educate students and volunteers on global health challenges while fostering cultural understanding of Haitian and Dominican communities.

Partner Organizations

• Good Samaritan Hospital & Maranatha Mission – Local healthcare and mission partners.
• Power of a Nickel – U.S.-based nonprofit supporting global health initiatives.
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) DOCARE Chapter – Student leadership and participation.

Accommodations & Logistics

• Housing:
  • Dormitory or hotel accommodations at Casa De Campo (specific details kept private for security reasons).
  • Double occupancy rooms with private bathrooms and air conditioning.
  • Golf carts available for navigating the resort complex.
• Meals:
  • Three meals daily provided at the all-inclusive housing.
  • Lunch transported daily to the clinical sites in the Bateys.
• Transportation:
  • Buses contracted through the NGO for travel to clinical sites.

Personnel Requirements

• Physicians Needed: 5 (3 confirmed).
• Medical Students Needed: 15 (12 confirmed).
• Medical Interpreters Needed: 8 (local interpreters available, additional volunteers welcome).
• Dentists Needed: 1 (1 confirmed, additional volunteers welcome).
• Other Specialists Needed: 1 Dermatologist (not yet confirmed).
• General Volunteers Needed: Additional spots may be available depending on space.

Costs & Fees

• Trip Fee (Excluding Airfare): $2,200
• Payment Instructions: Applicants will be routed through DOCARE for payment if space is available.
• Additional Expenses: Airfare, personal expenses, optional activities.

Security & Medical Safety

• Security Measures:
  • Daytime travel only.
  • No activities outside of the hotel or mission complex except for Batey visits and hospital work.
• Post-Exposure Plan:
  • Hospital visit available for treatment.
  • Option to return to the U.S. if necessary.

Additional Notes

• No Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits are offered for this trip.
• Trip primarily for WVSOM students, but additional applicants may be considered if space allows.
• Recommended to stay within the resort complex during leisure time for safety.