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<p class="fontlook"><CENTER><img src="../new_images/featurea.jpg"><BR><BR><B class="fontlook">MSA and Carrollton School Form Alliance – March 2008</B></CENTER>

<p class="fontlook">Goal III – A social awareness which impels to action and a desire to pursue a career in medicine prompted six Carrollton juniors: Lauren Correa, Michelle Loret-de-Mola, Caroline Naya, Gabriella Podhuka, Natalia Useche and Jennifer Villa to participate in a medical mission with the organization, Medical Students in Action, from March 29 – April 4. They joined University of Miami medical students and local physicians to provide medical services and education to residents of impoverished areas surrounding Santo Domingo.  Dr. Donato Argüelles, father of Carrollton graduates, Carolina ‘07 and Cristina ’98, approached Carrollton to see if there were students interested in assisting them on this mission.  Carolina participated in the mission last year and returned truly transformed.  It was her hope that an alliance could be formed between Carrollton and the organization so that future Carrollton students could participate in this worthy volunteer program.  The students were accompanied by parents, Mrs. Jennifer Villa and Mrs. Natalia Molina-Gustafson, who were invaluable to the success of the program, as they too volunteered to help. Preparing for the trip, the students knew they would be needed to assist the doctors and medical students by translating from Spanish to English and to be an extra pair of hands.  What they did not know, was the impact these five days would have on them.  
 
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<p class="fontlook">After the mission, Dr. Argüelles had this to say about the Carrollton students’ role in this important work, “You constituted the heart and soul of the mission. Within hours of assisting with translations, you intuitively understood the basics of what we were doing. Your endless energy allowed us to see many more patients than would have been remotely possible, especially in light of us visiting a “new” village on Wednesday where the sick seemed to seep from the crumbling walls around us. The 12 hour days where exhausting, but slipped by so quickly that water and lunch breaks where often forgotten.  As the days passed, you all actively became integral parts of the medical team. The medical teaching was captured on a single presentation and demonstration. The next time, you were the ones taking blood pressures, listening for heart murmurs, learning how to do physical exams,  EKG’s and Echocardiograms, pelvic exams and Pap smears, checking blood sugars and helping us out with the paperwork and the database. And believe it or not, this was only the “small” part of what you learned. More importantly was the personal experience of momentarily living amongst the poor and needy, really appreciating the difficulties that they face daily and how it is part of our obligation and Godly calling to help. The Mission becomes a spiritual, intellectual and emotional connection at a critical moment in your lives. I don’t need to state the obvious: that this moment in your lives reaches to the core of the Carrollton experience.  Yet the best part was the “fun”. Sometimes work doesn’t seem like work but play, especially when you so heartedly give of yourselves to the benefit of others. I want to thank you each personally for making my trip so much more fulfilling and complete.”
 
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<p class="fontlook">Exhausted when they returned, but energized and gratified for the unique opportunity they were presented, some of the students had this to say about their experience.  Michelle Loret de Mola, who had travelled to third-world countries before and seen poverty first-hand, never thought that she could make a difference given the enormity of these situations. Participating in the mission, she learned that she could.  Using her communication skills and willingness to lend a hand, Michelle realized the role she can play in helping others.  Gaby Pohudka, who aspires to be a physician said, “I gained a new perspective towards everything that I have, including things that I take for granted, such as medical care. I learned the true meaning of generosity, especially in the field that I would like to pursue in the future. This experience really changed me and the way that I look at the rest of the world.”  All of the participants agreed it was a rewarding experience and they look forward to continue assisting Medical Students in Action to realize their goals.
 

