Borders no problem for Daemen students
Party fundraiser planned for medical students' goodwill trip
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Residents of Progreso Dos, Dominican Republic line up outside of a makeshift clinic where Daemen College physicians assistant students administer care for one week in January with the organization Students Without Borders.

While most college students spend their winter breaks relaxing and hanging out with friends, a group of Daemen College students will be spending a week giving medical aid to residents of a third-world country.

In January, Daemen students Ashley Payne and Mary Turner will travel to the Dominican Republic with their group, Students Without Borders, to provide medical care that is otherwise unavailable.

Students Without Borders has a home on many college campuses throughout the country. Daemen's chapter is comprised of all physician assistant students.

"We set up clinics in rooms where there sometimes isn't electricity," said Turner. "There are concrete floors and no running water."

The group spends the week providing basic medical care, including well-child exams, prenatal care, sex education and pelvic exams, to more than 400 individuals. They also provide medications and vitamins, as they are not available in the area.

"Some of the medicines are donated, and some are bought," Payne said. "The ones we buy are less expensive because they're about to expire."

She noted that donations of over-the-counter medications and vitamins are accepted from individuals, while prescription medications are either donated or bought from medical professionals.

"It doesn't cost much to get the medical treatment," Payne said. "But it costs for the medication because everything is over- the- counter."

The same is true for public education in the area, the girls added. The schooling is not expensive, but children must have a uniform, which is costly. This forces families with multiple children to split the uniform between them.

"One child will go in the morning and another in the afternoon," Payne said.

As for treating the patients, the students have their work cut out for them.

"We see everything from colds to skin infections to injuries from accidents," Turner said. "They look forward to us coming. There are lines hundreds of people long."

Turner and Payne said that parasites are also a problem because of unclean water and the rarity of shoes in the area. The group brings donated tennis shoes with them to help combat the spread of parasites.

"We also bring water and toiletry items, and we never have enough," Turner added.

This is the eighth year that the group - this year comprised of 35 students, two faculty members and local practitioners who supervise the students' work - has traveled to the Dominican Republic. The personal cost to the students is approximately $800.

"It's nice that we bring practitioners because they have different specialties," said Payne.

The trip does not just benefit the residents the group helps but also the students participating.

"Going into the clinical year, it prepares you," said Payne, who will graduate this year from Daemen. "You don't see things like scabies here very often but I was able to diagnose a case because of my work with the group."

The girls also noted that the experience has made them appreciate the medical care available in this country and allows them the opportunity to overcome language barriers.

And it's not all work. While in the Dominican Republic, the students spend time with the residents, particularly the children.

"They love having their picture taken," said Payne.

In order to raise money for the trip, the group holds yearly fundraisers, which usually includes a spaghetti dinner and pancake breakfast.

This year, however, they've chosen a new route.

Students Without Borders will host a Family Fun Night at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 at the Daemen College Wick Center, 4380 Main St., near Harlem Road in Amherst.

Area band Route 66 will be donating a performance for the event. Daemen professor Gary Styn is a member of the group.

Refreshments will be available including a cash bar, and a silent auction will be held. The donation of a bottle of children's vitamins will warrant an arm's length worth of tickets for the auction.

Tickets for the event are $8 presale or $10 at the door. Children 10 and younger will be admitted for $1.

"We wanted to attract a different crowd this year," Payne said.

"All of the money goes to the trip and medicine and medical supplies, as well as the vans and translators we use," Turner added.

The group is hoping to raise $1,500 with the event.

While the trip to the Dominican Republic is a big deal for the group every year, the students don't ignore the needs of residents of Western New York either.

The students have participated in several health fairs held in South Buffalo at the intersection of Seneca and Babcock streets.

"We do mainly blood pressure and diabetes screenings," Payne said. "We also give out general preventative information on smoking cessation."

The group started working in South Buffalo last year and also gives workshops on general hygiene and lice kits for children.

While the group's local work is growing, Payne and Turner noted the differences between working in the Dominican Republic and working in America.

"There are a lot of legal issues," Turner said. "You can't just set up here and hand out medications."

"In the Dominican Republic they're happy to have us there, but here the health fair is as close as we can get," Payne added. "The laws are designed to protect people though."

"And there are a lot of organizations that are already here," continued Turner. "They're very in need there."

For advanced tickets to the Family Fun Night, e-mail Payne at apayne1@daemen.edu.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com