In the News

At NC State, I am a Feature Baton Twirler for the Power Sound of The South Marching Band! I am, also, a member of the Global Medical Brigades Program and a fellow for the Council for Global Health Scholars to provide long-lasting sustainable health care in foreign countries. While I am not baton twirling and studying, I enjoy playing intramural sports, going to get Howling Cow Ice Cream with my friends and attending NC State Sporting Events!

Ultimately, the real impact of medical brigades lies not in the temporary care provided, but in how we leverage our experiences to foster sustainable change. As we shift our focus from short-term fixes to long-term solutions, we begin to break the cycle of dependency and empower communities to take control of their future health. True advocacy means committing to the work beyond the brigades—holding ourselves accountable, and striving to be part of a larger movement for equity and justice in global health.

The Rural Health Association of Oklahoma recognized Dr. Randy Curry’s work in rural health last week. Dr. Curry received the “Rural Health Lifetime Achievement” award at the Awards Reception for the Oklahoma Rural Health Conference held in Tulsa, Okla.

Kerth noted that Dr. Curry has led 140 SWOSU students and faculty on eight medical mission trips to rural Panama with Global Brigades from 2014-2024. Each brigade provides access to healthcare and public health workshops. Global Brigades also supports communities with economic development, sanitation and clean water projects, and, according to Kerth, “uniquely implements these programs in a holistic model to meet a community’s health and economic goals.”

The need for healthcare was evident, with patients arriving as early as 5 a.m. to receive care. The gratitude of the local community left a lasting impact on the volunteers. Daitch reflected, “These trips remind you why you went into healthcare. Seeing patients receive basic care inspires the desire to improve global systems.”

Seton Hall’s Global Medical Brigades not only provided immediate care but also inspired the volunteers, reinforcing their commitment to addressing global health disparities. These experiences equipped the students with invaluable insights as they continue their journey toward becoming compassionate healthcare providers.

A young mother sat in silence as she stared at the vision chart in front of her. She had come with her two toddlers for the health testing offered by Global Brigades in Honduras. As her silence wore on, it became apparent that she wasn’t reading the vision chart because she couldn’t see even the largest letters. “It turned out she was nearly blind,” said Ann Garton, DNP, St. Ambrose University Global Brigades advisor. “We had to stack three pairs of donated glasses on top of each other to allow her to see at all. She could see her children’s faces for the first time.” 

Global Medical Brigades is an international movement of students and medical professionals working alongside local communities and staff to implement sustainable health systems. This January, Global Medical Brigades will be traveling to a rural community in Panama to host free medical and dental clinics for community members.

Those interested in joining are asked to fill out an interest form or stop by the Global Medical Brigades table at O-Fest on Thursday, Sept. 5.

This summer, four students from Hofstra University’s Physician Assistant (PA) program spent their summer break giving back to those in need. They volunteered with Global Brigades in Panama, where they provided healthcare services to underserved communities.

Jennifer Keth from Quaker Hill, CT, and Jenna Kim from Glenview, IL, were two of the students who shared their experience.

Sara and Eric DeVecchis were pregnant with their first and only child in 2003.

Thomas DeVecchis was born with a bi-lateral cleft lip and palate, meaning he was born without a roof of his mouth, a protruding lip, and an irregular nostril, making it difficult for him to eat and breathe.

“You just adapt and do what you have to do to encourage him to feel better and hold him in a position that he was comfortable in,” Sara said. “We just prayed a lot and were supportive of each other.”

When Duffy Casey, MD (MD ’09), FACOG, was a high school senior, he was uncertain about his future. College seemed a distant dream, overshadowed by the immediate need to work multiple jobs to support his education.

“I might join the military or go to college; I’m not sure yet,” he confided one day to ‘Dr. Chuck’ — Charles Dietzen, MD, a regular customer at a coffee shop where Casey worked in the mornings before school. Dr. Chuck always arrived on his Harley motorcycle or in a Jeep Wrangler with the top down.

Dr. Chuck posed a question that would change Casey’s life: “Have you ever thought about being a doctor?”

The UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) congratulates Lilly O’Rielly for winning the prestigious C.D. Howe Scholarship Endowment Fund National Engineering Scholarship. She is one of two undergraduate engineering students in Canada to receive the renewable scholarship valued at $7,500 per year.

Since 2013, the C.D. Howe Endowment Fund has provided scholarships to students enrolled in an undergraduate engineering degree program at a Canadian university. Each institution can nominate up to two students entering their second year to apply for the scholarship. Applications are assessed on academic performance, volunteer and community involvement, and extracurricular activities, with special consideration for engineering-related activities.