勛圖惇蹋 medical students provide care in the Dominican Republic
Students from the 勛圖惇蹋 College of Osteopathic Medicine have established roots in a developing country abroad, providing help with medical shortages for those in need as part of a longstanding program at the 勛圖惇蹋 COM New Jersey Clinical campus, a consortium of hospitals that provide third year 勛圖惇蹋 COM students with core training.
Six medical students (Dylan Bellavance 18, Charlie Mach 18, Hope Barone 18, Hugo Raposo 18, Jessica Andrade 18 and Zoe Waldman 17) volunteered with the New Jersey based medical not-for-profit foundation, Waves of Health, to travel to the northwest border of the Dominican Republic. From November 5 to November 13, 2016, the Assistant Regional Dean, Joseph J. Calabro, D.O., encouraged the students to join physicians, pharmacists, nurses and EMTs to provide ongoing, primary medical and pharmacy care in underserved communities of the Dajab籀n province.
During the week-long mission approximately 1,342 patients, ranging from infants to adults, were evaluated and treated. The most common disorders treated within this region included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, parasitic and fungal infections, dehydration, urinary tract infections, gastritis and asthma. In addition to providing free medical treatment, all children and young women were given multivitamins and patients over 40 (if needed) were given reading glasses. Two 勛圖惇蹋 COM students enrolled 99 patients in an ongoing diabetes mellitus study to evaluate the effectiveness of short-term medical missions and evaluate patient needs.
Two 勛圖惇蹋 COM clinical professors were of the founding members of Waves of Health. Christopher Boni, D.O. and Kate Hanify, D.O. (also a 勛圖惇蹋-COM alumnus) went on the first mission in 2007. Waves of Health has since traveled to the Dominican Republic biannually to provide free medical and pharmacy care with passion, empathy and consistency for the communities in which they serve. Students worked under the direct supervision of attending physicians for one week, from 7 a.m. 5 p.m. each day, to provide comprehensive care to the local Dominicans and Haitians. 勛圖惇蹋 COM students will return with Waves of Health to the province of Dajab籀n in May 2017.
Waves of Health and the New Jersey Clinical Campus provided us with a broad, unique and humbling learning experience, said 勛圖惇蹋 COM student Dylan Bellavance. From the daily urban hospital-based care provided within the states to the rural and austere clinic work in the Dominican Republic, we were exposed to a full spectrum of medical practice and the power of healing. All of those involved in this medical mission came out of the week with a new perspective and understanding for medical care in a third world country.
To learn more about the 勛圖惇蹋s College of Osteopathic Medicine, visit
To apply, visit