Through this website I hope to inform you, my family, friends, and supporters, about my adventure and keep you updated on my preparations as well as how everything is going once I am there. I am so excited for this summer, and I am so happy to have you alongside me!
The Beginning
During winter break 2011 I decided to apply for a two-month medical engineering program through Engineering World Health (EWH) in Central America. On February 4, 2011 I was accepted into the Engineering World Health Summer Institute. My emotions were indescribable upon receiving my acceptance letter.
When I read the description of the program, I immediately knew that it was exactly where I was meant to be; the program addresses every ambition and dream I have at the moment. This program will allow me to apply my engineering knowledge and international experiences to assisting patients in a developing nation. My duties there will consist of repairing and installing essential equipment as well as training doctors and nurses in the use of the equipment. In the words of EWH, some equipment may need immediate attention. In other words, if volunteers, such as myself and my peers, don't attempt to repair the equipment, a patient may not be able to be treated and his/her condition may deteriorate. Under these circumstances, we are instructed to attempt to repair the device to the best of our abilities, because if we don't help, no one will.
The first month of the volunteer program will be held in Costa Rica where I will be taking Spanish lessons, attending technical lectures on medical instruments and measurements, and participating in a laboratory focused on working in developing world hospitals. During this time period I will be trained on the devices I will be working with the devices and instructed on how to adequately educate the doctors and nurses. Following these preparations I will be relocated to my host country to work in a developing hospital. The program will end in Honduras where participants will be giving poster presentations. This opportunity combines all of the values that I wish to build upon including providing assistance to less fortunate people in other countries, communicating and merging with those people, and becoming more technically knowledgable. I have never been more sure of where I feel God wants me to be, and I am ecstatic to be challenged and pushed to trust the events that will occur this summer.
When I read the description of the program, I immediately knew that it was exactly where I was meant to be; the program addresses every ambition and dream I have at the moment. This program will allow me to apply my engineering knowledge and international experiences to assisting patients in a developing nation. My duties there will consist of repairing and installing essential equipment as well as training doctors and nurses in the use of the equipment. In the words of EWH, some equipment may need immediate attention. In other words, if volunteers, such as myself and my peers, don't attempt to repair the equipment, a patient may not be able to be treated and his/her condition may deteriorate. Under these circumstances, we are instructed to attempt to repair the device to the best of our abilities, because if we don't help, no one will.
The first month of the volunteer program will be held in Costa Rica where I will be taking Spanish lessons, attending technical lectures on medical instruments and measurements, and participating in a laboratory focused on working in developing world hospitals. During this time period I will be trained on the devices I will be working with the devices and instructed on how to adequately educate the doctors and nurses. Following these preparations I will be relocated to my host country to work in a developing hospital. The program will end in Honduras where participants will be giving poster presentations. This opportunity combines all of the values that I wish to build upon including providing assistance to less fortunate people in other countries, communicating and merging with those people, and becoming more technically knowledgable. I have never been more sure of where I feel God wants me to be, and I am ecstatic to be challenged and pushed to trust the events that will occur this summer.
"The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." -John 3:8
Central America Schedule for 2011
June 1, 2011 EWH Summer Program Begins
All participants meet at San Jose International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica no later than 10:00 PM. Meet host families
June 1 - July 1 Costa Rica
June 2: Orientation and Spanish Placement, First Technical Class
June 2: Classes begin
Schedule for Monday - Thursday
8:00 - 12:00: Spanish Lessons
12:00 - 1:00: Lunch break
1:00 - 2:00: Lecture: Introduction to Medical Instruments and Measurements
2:00 - 5:00: Laboratory: Working in Developing World Hospitals
Schedule for Fridays
8:00 - 5:00 Field work in local hospital
June 4: Rafting Trip
July 2 - July 29 Host Country
July 2: Travel to host country
July 4 - July 29: Work in hospital 8:00 - 5:00
July 30 - July 31 End of Program Meeting
July 30: By 2 PM, all participants arrive in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
July 30, 2 PM: Posters, Presentations and Discussion
July 31 EWH Summer Experience Ends
2:00 PM shuttles to Tegucigalpa Airport
All participants meet at San Jose International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica no later than 10:00 PM. Meet host families
June 1 - July 1 Costa Rica
June 2: Orientation and Spanish Placement, First Technical Class
June 2: Classes begin
Schedule for Monday - Thursday
8:00 - 12:00: Spanish Lessons
12:00 - 1:00: Lunch break
1:00 - 2:00: Lecture: Introduction to Medical Instruments and Measurements
2:00 - 5:00: Laboratory: Working in Developing World Hospitals
Schedule for Fridays
8:00 - 5:00 Field work in local hospital
June 4: Rafting Trip
July 2 - July 29 Host Country
July 2: Travel to host country
July 4 - July 29: Work in hospital 8:00 - 5:00
July 30 - July 31 End of Program Meeting
July 30: By 2 PM, all participants arrive in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
July 30, 2 PM: Posters, Presentations and Discussion
July 31 EWH Summer Experience Ends
2:00 PM shuttles to Tegucigalpa Airport
