During the winter break, a team consisting of six Carroll students, four medical practitioners (comprising 3 MDs and a PA), along with a faculty advisor, revisited the Mission/School of Santa Maria del Mexicano in Colon, Queretaro, Mexico, to carry out medical outreach services. This had been an annual opportunity for Carroll students and faculty until the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted it, and we were thrilled to reinstate this initiative after a four-year hiatus.
Thank you to Board of Trustee and outreach team member Dr. David Lechner, Carroll class of 1984, for sharing a glowing review of their trip – I've included an excerpt of his recap below.
The group provided onsite health clinics to the 154 students and 22 adults-teachers, priests and nuns, over four days and spent a free day in both Colon and the larger city of Queretaro as the guest of Father Dan who oversees the school and mission there. While there, the students participated with the providers as scribes, translators, assistants and learners. The clinic days were long and demanding and they were excellent contributing participants. Part of the expectation for their participation was to fully emerge into the school and engage with the children; it was joyous to watch them go! Safe to say, lots of tears all around with these good byes. We could not be any prouder of the work and engagement of these students! They are, to a person, incredible humans and we can say that the world is in good hands with these students!
The group provided onsite health clinics to the 154 students and 22 adults-teachers, priests and nuns, over four days and spent a free day in both Colon and the larger city of Queretaro as the guest of Father Dan who oversees the school and mission there. While there, the students participated with the providers as scribes, translators, assistants and learners. The clinic days were long and demanding and they were excellent contributing participants. Part of the expectation for their participation was to fully emerge into the school and engage with the children; it was joyous to watch them go! Safe to say, lots of tears all around with these good byes. We could not be any prouder of the work and engagement of these students! They are, to a person, incredible humans and we can say that the world is in good hands with these students!
~ David Lechner, MD
VP Health Care Services & Chief Medical Officer
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MT
Below are some of the students reflections from the trip:
"This trip was truly incredible and an experience that will have everlasting impacts. While we provided everything that we could for the kids, the kids gave so much more in return that can not be matched. The pure joy, excitement and curiosity that beams from each kid is contagious! The power of a smile cannot be understated. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities to work with such amazing professionals, instructors and peers. I definitely will be back some time in the future to visit the children again!"
~ Vicente Ortega, Ronan, MT
"Traveling to Mexico with Dr. Strode and the other students was an incredible opportunity that I'll be reflecting on for a long time. I'm so grateful for all of the people we met and how easy it was to speak with everyone, even with some language barriers! A lot of what I was able to experience on this trip was thanks to the Carroll College Hispanic Studies and Languages program and the skills that these classes have taught me."
~ June LePage, Lewistown, MT
“Experiencing a culture and lifestyle different than my own was such an eye-opening experience. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I am thankful for that. The trip broadened my perspective on community and healthcare, and how, as individuals living in a developed country, there is so much more that we could be doing to help people outside the U.S.”
~ Tyler Dailey, Bellingham, WA
"For me, this was truly an eye-opening trip. My biggest takeaway was that being joyful is a choice. Many of these kids didn't have much and were living with discomforting ailments, but that didn't stop them from being truly joyful and loving."
~ Alyssa Hurst, Plentywood, MT