An Amazing Medical Mission to Tanzania

July 24, 2023

PCOM Georgia students pose for a group photo with Tanzanian medical providers and volunteers.

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Towards the end of June, 20 PCOM Georgia students—12 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), two Biomedical (MS/Biomed), and six Pharmacy (PharmD)—traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, where they spent five days volunteering in medical clinics under the direction of PCOM Georgia Professor and Chair of Clinical Education Donald W. Penney, MD, MsC, FACEP. This was the second medical mission introduced on campus through the PCOM Global Health Initiative. The student-run organization, which “works to assist medical students in setting up global initiatives and international clinical rotations,” recommends at least one service trip during a student’s first or second year of study.

Dr. Penney, who grew up in Canada, traveled to Zambia upon completing medical school in Ontario. Since then, he said, “I thought I’d like to go back to Africa and give back.”

In 2017, after a rewarding medical mission to Nepal through the International Medical Relief (IMR), a 501(c)3 nonprofit, he chose the same organization to host PCOM trips. “They have boots on the ground in different countries,” said Dr. Penney, who receives “no perks” for recommending this option. Primarily, he has been impressed with IMR’s ability to coordinate staffing and need, including arranging follow-up care to critical patients in remote areas. Their tax-deductible packages—lodging, main meals, and in-country transportation—further prioritize volunteers’ safety. Also, to set expectations for the Tanzanian trip, IMR’s representatives hosted an interactive presentation, held in a campus lecture hall, for the PCOM group.

PCOM Georgia students Alice Manning (DO ’26), Jessica Meredith (DO ’26), Emily Rein (DO ’26), and Lauren Segal (DO ’26) rightfully sensed that expectations would pale in comparison to experiences.

“As medical students,” Manning shared, “we are so focused on exams and quizzes and having the proper clinical skills that we can lose sight of the main reason we want to get into medicine.” Although the PCOM delegation served about 900 patients over five days, she said, “You come away rejuvenated from having a lasting impact on each patient.”

Also, thankful to have broadened her knowledge, Meredith revealed, “We got firsthand experience in seeing the chronic manifestations of diseases that are always managed in developed countries, as well as diseases that are hardly ever found in the U.S., such as cholera or African sleeping sickness.”

The cultural education was equally meaningful. “I had purchased about 100 toys to distribute to children,” Meredith said. “Every time I gave one toy away, the recipient would break out in a huge smile. However, it blew me away that the children would immediately share with their friends or siblings, indicating a real sense of community compared to children in the U.S. Americans can take note!”

All admired the demeanor of their Maasai patients, who’d traveled miles to receive care. “Here in the states,” Segal expressed, “we take for granted our relatively easy access to medical care and act out when things don’t go our way in those situations. They waited for hours and were super patient and grateful.

Conveying the value of basic conveniences, Manning said, “Many of the villagers were farmers, and we had individuals who were crying to have received sunglasses to protect their eyes.” Others were thrilled with their inexpensive reading glasses.

The language barrier between the U.S. volunteers and Swahili-speaking locals often evaporated, but the students, who were examining patients rather than only shadowing other professionals, remained greatly dependent upon their translators. “Tanzanian providers were the translators,” said Rein, who enjoyed collaborating with them. “Their training is different from ours, so it was eye opening to learn from them and work together to treat patients. With the language barrier, I learned how important it is to demonstrate.” As an osteopathic medical student, Rein also “valued the hands-on, physical experiences with patients.”

While gaining perspectives to last a lifetime, Dr. Penney and his students have ignited a passion for medical missions at PCOM. Faculty, family members, and friends are also encouraged to take part. “Cousins, boyfriends, girlfriends—everybody has a job,” Dr. Penney insisted. “It doesn’t matter if you are medical.” Quoting an African proverb, he added, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

With that in mind, Dr. Penney is in the early stages of planning a medical mission to Southeast Asia for next June. The opportunity will be posted on IMR’s website as information becomes available.

PCOM Georgia students stand in front of an elephant in Tanzania.

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