Published on August 06, 2010
Dean Doctor Spends a Week Treating Patients in Honduras
Philip Bain, MD traveled to Central America with the Global Medical Brigades
It’s a week that Dr. Philip Bain, Dean Clinic Internal Medicine will never forget. In June, he traveled to Honduras with his son and 19 other undergraduate students from the University of Chicago.
“We packed many suitcases with medication that was donated to the brigade, and headed down to do what we could to help,” says Dr. Bain. “It was an experience that will be with me the rest of my life.”
Global Medical Brigades develops sustainable health initiatives and provides relief where there is limited access to healthcare. Student volunteers and health professionals travel to places like Honduras, where they establish mobile medical clinics in under resourced communities.
Dr. Bain and the student volunteers set up their mobile clinics in schools where they saw hundreds of patients per day.
“We saw almost 900 people in just three days,” says Dr. Bain. “We saw everything from back pain and headaches, to respiratory infections and rashes.”
In addition to treating patients, the group toured local orphanages. According to Dr. Bain, one of the highlights was bringing suitcases of stuffed animals to the kids at the orphanages. He says they were so happy and grateful.
“The rural areas don't have clinics on a regular or frequent basis," says Dr. Bain. “People would come from all over to see the doctor. Some of the people who came to see us would walk five miles or more just to see the doctor. It was a very rewarding experience for me and for the college kids."
Global Medical Brigades is always looking for volunteers. To learn more about it, you can go to www.globalbrigades.org, or you can contact Philip Bain, MD at philip.bain@deancare.com .
