Mountainside Medicine

This summer, I was lucky enough to go on my university-sponsored medical trip to Cuzco, Peru with the Global Medical Training (GMT) Club at the University of Virginia. During these trips, a group of 20 students from GMT clubs around the world work with local physicians and volunteers to conduct annual pop-up clinics in underserved areas. After signing up, I was counting down the days until I would assist medical professionals in caring for those in need while also having the opportunity to explore a new country.

When we arrived in the heart of Cuzco—surrounded by the Andean mountains, immersed in a rich culture, and standing beneath the bluest skies I had ever seen—I knew immediately this experience would be unforgettable. We were given four clinic days for training and three days to explore the city. During those first few days, as I wandered through Cuzco’s charming streets, I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. Although I could have spent the entire trip simply soaking in the beauty and culture, I was even more eager to begin helping provide care for the people who lived there.

On our first clinic day, we arrived early to check out our site and set everything up. There were several booths, including a general care tent, an EKG booth, a pharmacy, and a dental clinic. I was assigned to the EKG booth and was excited to assist patients and practice my Spanish. We had a one-day training on common diseases in Cuzco and medical terminology we may encounter, but most of the Spanish I picked up while on the job. By the end of that first day, we had given EKGs to over 200 more people than we expected. And although I was exhausted after hours in a 100-degree tent, I felt a sense of fulfillment greater than anything I had experienced before.

The next day, I was part of the general care team. This meant that I would ask the patients’ general medical questions to rule out life-threatening conditions and narrow down their symptoms to propose a differential and treatment to the doctor. Most of the cases we saw were traumatic injuries or arthritis due to the nature of the manual labor typically done by the patients. Among agricultural workers, crush and fall injuries were common. Street vendors, on the other hand, often endured chronic pain from hauling heavy loads of inventory along steep, uneven streets.

However, one patient came to us for a very different reason. “Rosie” was a teenager who came to our booth simply stating that she “needed help.” After speaking with her further, she soon revealed that she was a single mom struggling with severe post-natal depression. We thanked her for trusting us as she shared everything that she had gone through. I soon realized that, although there wasn’t much I could do personally, we could arrange for her to see a mental health professional for additional support. The doctor and I also let her know that we were available to speak again if she ever needed to talk. At that moment, I felt helpless; I wished I could do more than just direct her to someone else. 

Over the weeks that followed, we continued to check in with her via text. She told us she had been able to see a mental health professional, and we continued reaching out, speaking with her as a friend. Even though there was a language barrier, I did my best to understand what she was going through and build a meaningful connection. This theme continued as we went on a home visit the next day.

We drove a few miles and climbed a few hundred meters in elevation from our clinic site to visit “Christian” in his home. His mother and caretaker graciously offered us a cup of tea and brought pillows and blankets for us to sit on. I was inspired by her warm hospitality and bubbly personality despite her circumstances. Due to an accident, Christian had been quadriplegic for over 40 years. He was seeking help for his gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach lining. After assessing him, we provided him with antiacids. Despite the doctor prescribing the proper intervention, I felt a pang of guilt when we left, wanting to do something more to improve his quality of life.

Christian had a makeshift plastic bed while his mother’s bed consisted only of a few blankets on the floor. He’d mentioned sometimes getting bedsores, so after leaving, I discussed the possibility of fundraising with the coordinator to possibly provide mattresses for Christian and his mother. The coordinator agreed, as they had similar successful fundraising efforts in the past. While the students completed our clinic days, our coordinator diligently worked on gathering donations from GMT volunteers. He was able to gather enough donations in just one day and deliver the mattresses before my volunteer experience ended. Seeing the smiles on their faces is something I’ll never forget. 

At the start of this trip, I was eager to learn about common ailments in Peru and practice developing differential diagnoses. Although I did enjoy working with physicians, I was surprised by the amount of change we were able to create in such a short amount of time. Rosie had been suffering for months, and Christian for most of his life, yet in just a few days of collective effort were able to improve their quality of life.

This experience also revealed the flaw in medical trips like these. Most patients we saw were simply given a bottle of medicine, which would eventually run out. Then what? These trips only occur once a year, and in different locations. It didn’t sit right with me that patients were thanking me for helping them when we came into their community, spoke to them for five minutes, and then left. I needed to do more. So, I found an organization called MedDreams that conducts medical trips to the same location biannually, and partners with local universities to increase education in Monterrey, Mexico. This is more sustainable and impactful, combining immediate care with ongoing support and education. It empowers the local community to manage their health long after the medical team has left.

This experience showed me firsthand that true change demands commitment beyond short-term fixes. Now, I’m grateful for the opportunity to make that commitment. I look forward to arriving in Monterrey soon and making a lasting impact for years to come.