SEVEN STUDENTS SPENT THEIR WINTER BREAKS HELPING THE NEEDY IN COSTA RICA

By Jordan Evans, Creighton ‘14

In December, most students headed home for winter break to spend time with family and friends, but seven SigEps from Creighton traveled to Costa Rica for a medical mission trip, immersing themselves in a new culture and serving low-income citizens.

Although this was a medical mission trip and most of the participants were pre-med students, not all who attended study medicine. James Gorman, ‘14, an accounting and finance major with a Spanish minor, also took part in the trip.

“Initially I was nervous about going on the trip, with my main motivation being to improve my Spanish,” said Gorman. “In the end I couldn’t have been more comfortable working in the clinics. The trip was, in a word, incredible.”

Gorman was not alone in his praise. Biology major Neil Backer, ‘13, shared similar thoughts, “It was a great trip. I felt like [the citizens] impacted my life as I tried to make a difference in theirs,” said Backer.

A typical day of clinic involved walking through the community and meeting the residents. At the residents’ homes, the students scheduled appointments for the ill or those wanting a checkup.
The living conditions shocked the students: run down shacks, dirt floors, poor plumbing. But more surprising to them was the optimism of the residents.

Clinic workers were swamped with appointments, seeing patients with anything from common colds to intestinal parasites. Exams consisted of a physical exam, checking vitals and gathering the patient’s family medical history and his or her reason for visiting.

The students would compile their findings, and then discuss the symptoms and possible causes and illnesses. They would be joined by a doctor who would share thoughts on the patients’ conditions, confirming or changing the diagnosis. After six days of this routine, the SigEps were comfortable diagnosing patients, boosting the confidence of the pre-med students on the trip.

The chapter would like to see this trip continue, as it presents a chance to volunteer in a way that benefits studies as well as people less fortunate. To those who attended this year, the trip served as a pinnacle of the SigEp experience, because it embodies the ideals of Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love, giving each member a chance to better himself.

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