So I didn’t have this professional blog last summer, so I thought I would post about my amazing experience in Peru.

Last year I was fortunate enough to be a part of a cataract surgery and medical mission. Suffice to say it was a great opportunity and I hope I can help A Promise to Peru in a future mission during my career (Here’s looking forward to you 4th year!). What drew me to this cause was that providing cataract surgeries was a permanent way for helping the indigenous people of Peru and that the organization was committed to involve local doctors and other resources in order to not loose these patients to followups after their surgery. These are, in my opinion, very important factors to support in international missions!

Our friend and Quechua translator.

Here are the stats from the mission in 2014:
1,650 patients were evaluated
1,000 pairs of prescription glasses and sunglasses were dispensed
50 ultrasound exams performed
85 eye surgeries performed
2 studies on health in rural Peru were initiated

Taking patient histories.

As a rising MS2, it was amazing to interact with patients, a skill set I really did not develop in my first year. It reminded me why I wanted to go to medical school in the first place, and I can not thank this trip enough for renewing my motivation in clinical medicine. Plus, I really got to practice my Spanish skills. While I am still not fluent by any means, at least I can get an okay history if I need to!

A Promise to Peru Team Picture 2014