Chincha Recap

Under the auspices of the Peruvian American Medical Society, Chincha, a small city 3hrs from Lima, was the new and additional site for our project this year. Street side rubble and empty lots continue to be grim reminders that this city was near devastated by an earthquake in 2007. Several of our patients lived in ‘homes’ with straw walls and no roof, making respiratory illnesses a common complaint.

Devastation left behind from the earthquake

At this clinic, we had the opportunity to work side by side with several specialists and volunteers from St Louis, Miami and Chicago. Besides seeing adult and pediatric patients, the students also got the unique chance to work with specialists in Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, OB and Endocrinology in an underserved setting! It was amazing that our newly diagnosed patient with hypothyroidism could get an Endocrine ‘consult’ right way (although the Endocrinologist did confess she had never seen such severity of symptoms) or a pediatric patient with severe sleep apnea will get his surgery for free next month at the nearly hospital. Our students were amazing; I heard it over and over again from all the specialists they worked with-these docs want to time their visit with our visit next year to work with them some more! Karen Stary, our star therapist established a PT department in the short time she was there and worked with a local carpenter to make splints for patients who otherwise could not have afforded it. We screened for metabolic syndrome, provided dietary counsel, visited orphanages and schools to discuss dental hygiene, safety and domestic violence, taught CPR to more than 100 individuals, distributed hundreds of eyeglasses… a little accomplished, a lot more remaining!

Students enjoying a didactic session

All these little stories are gratifying and humbling at the same time- the mother who on the last day told me that she would be waiting for our return next year, the local nursing students who shyly took pictures with us, the hugs from our patients, the camaraderie built in the short time with other doctors and volunteers with a common purpose... we are rolling up our sleeves and looking forward to returning next year a little accomplished, a lot more remaining!

Sangeeta Krishna, MD

Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital

PHOP Director