January - December 2023 • Bocas del Toro Province, Bocas del Toro
What I liked
It was a very good leadership opportunity and a chance to grow both as a leader and a person. Plus getting to experience a different culture and helping medically underserved communities.
What I wish was different
The training stage for the team was kind of vague and there were limited resources, especially for practicing vital signs.
Advice
Keep in touch with other team leaders in other universities, especially those who have previous experience and listen to their advices.
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Team Leader
August 2020 - May 2023 • Denver, CO
What I liked
As the team leader for two impactful mission trips under my guidance, I can attest to the extraordinary experiences we shared. Our journey to Peru was a testament to compassion and service, delivering essential dental care to underserved communities. The impact, cultural immersion, and heartfelt connections forged during this trip were truly unforgettable. Building on the success in Peru, our expedition to Guatemala exceeded expectations, showcasing seamless organization, unwavering dedication, and genuine care for the communities. Witnessing the positive transformations in oral health and the joy we brought to those we served left an indelible mark on all of us. These transformative experiences have not only broadened our perspective on global healthcare but have also instilled a lifelong commitment to positive change.
What I wish was different
Reflecting on the mission trips, I wish there had been a consistent understanding among interns regarding professionalism and cultural adaptation. It's essential for interns to grasp that their commitment extends beyond personal gain, emphasizing a selfless dedication to helping those in need. A wish would be for interns to embody kindness, empathy, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact. These qualities not only enhance the team's dynamics but also contribute to the overall success and meaningfulness of the mission. A shared commitment to the mission's core purpose and a collective understanding of the significance of cultural sensitivity would undoubtedly elevate the experience for everyone involved.
Advice
Reflecting on this experience, a valuable piece of advice I would share is to always approach the mission trip with respect, adaptability, and a profound understanding of its significance. Every action and interaction contribute to the mission's success, making it crucial to treat the endeavor with the utmost importance. Being respectful to every individual encountered, whether team members or those being served, fosters a positive and collaborative atmosphere. Additionally, a willingness to adapt to new cultures and circumstances is key. Remember, this is more than just a trip; it's a mission with a purpose. Embrace the opportunity to learn, listen, and work harmoniously with fellow team members, recognizing that each contribution, no matter how small, plays a vital role in making a positive impact.
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Team leader
May 2022 • Guatemala City, Guatemala
What I liked
I really loved being fully immersed in the culture and truly being a member of each host family. After my first year, I loved the experience so much that I am now leading my second team, and have been a part of VAW for three years now. It truly gives you clinical experience that is engaging and powerful. You learn so much about every aspect of one's life.
What I wish was different
I wish there could have been more time with the patients, and that we were able to see all of the patients that went to the clinics.
Advice
Embrace it all. You will learn so much about another community, but at the same time be exposed to what you value personally and I think you can learn a lot by completely opening up during this experience.
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Team Leader
May 2022 - March 2023 • San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá
What I liked
My internship in Guatemala with the VAW Medical team from Eckerd College in March of 2022 opened a door for me in terms of my will to study global health policy and international relations. So much so that I applied to be a Team Leader of my own trip to the same location for March of 2023, but this time, a global health trip. I loved managing and organizing training sessions as well as making my board of interns to help with language training, education day lesson plan creation, and fundraising through bake sales for school supplies.
What I wish was different
While the training for these trips starts early and we have a lot of work to do before we leave, my actual time in Guatemala was only a week long. I know that VAW offers a two-week version of their service trips, and I wish as a Team Leader my second time around that I had opted for the two-week expedition. With more time, we would have been able to accomplish more, meet more people, and have a longer time to bond as a team.
Advice
Make sure to take some personal initiative and invest some time into researching the culture you are entering into. Traveling respectfully, mindfully, with compassion, and with the viewpoint of aiding the community you are a guest in is crucial to being a responsible global citizen.
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Team Leader
June 2020 • Gainesville, FL
What I liked
I loved the freedom that VAW Global gave me to run the club on campus and really make it my own. I was able to recruit, host meetings, create fundraisers, train interns, etc the way that worked best for me. They are also a very flexible organization so that really helped me with attending meetings and asking for guidance while being a busy college student. I also loved attending the trip that I had planned and seeing all my work come into fruition. It was very rewarding seeing all the patients and how grateful they were for our services. I also loved being given cultural exploration days while on the trip because my team and I were able to explore Peru and see Machu Picchu which was a total bucket list moment!
What I wish was different
Advice
Enjoy every moment because it passes by quickly! Being a team leader can be difficult but once you go on that trip, everything comes together and you never want it to end.
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Team Leader
June 2021 - May 2022 • Cusco, Cusco
What I liked
In May 2021, I traveled to San Pedro, Guatemala as a dental intern. I had such a positive and motivational experience that I decided to become the Michigan State University Dental Team Leader for a May 2022 trip to Cusco, Peru. My overall experience with VAW Global has been outstanding. The VAW staff works relentlessly to make sure that intern trips are planned with organization, go smoothly, and result in the best outcome for both interns and patients served.
What I wish was different
Advice
I highly recommended joining a VAW team and traveling on one (or more!) of their life-changing trips. The two trips that I attended solidified my choice to go into dentistry, provided me with some much needed perspective and worldly-knowledge, and also gave me tons of life-long memories and friends. My biggest piece of advice for upcoming interns is to put into the experience what you hope to get out of it. It's truly what you make of it!
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Team Leader
May - June 2022 • San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá
What I liked
I absolutely loved my internship in Guatemala with the VAW Medical team from Butler University last May 2021, so much so that I had to come back to lead a team with Loyola U Chicago in May 2022. I loved interacting with patients, learning to take patient vitals, shadowing local providers, working with local nurses and pharmacists, and learning basic pharmacology. This trip drew my closer to medicine, while doing so in the beautiful location of Lake Atitlan.
What I wish was different
I wish more than anything that more time could be spent with patients, especially the children, who attended the clinics, because this experience was so unlike anything I'd ever experienced before in hospital settings I've found myself in in the past.
Advice
I advise anyone who would like to partake in a VAW Global internship to make the most out of their experience. You get out of this internship what you put into it. Take your training, especially medical and language education, seriously, so that your internship runs as smoothly as possible.
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Team Leader
July 2020 • Athens, GA
What I liked
Going to Guatemala was one of the best experiences that I have had in my college experience. We were able to serve a community that needed our temporary assistance. I like that VAW Global's mission is to be temporary, so we can help the countries get a point where they can get to a point of no longer needing interns.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Team Leader
September 2019 • Denver, CO
What I liked
I love how the Dental Outreach helped a lot of our interns to have hands-on experience and also a connection with the staff and the country.
What I wish was different
Advice
Be professional and always know why you signed up for this internship. Also, always come with a positive mindset and be willing to make changes and adapt to the country.
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Head of Education Day and Media Marketing
July 2021 • San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá
What I liked
I loved exploring a new country and city while providing medical service to cities lacking medical attention in Guatemala. We had the opportunity to work in clinics and provide health care education to children while we were there as well.
What I wish was different
I wish that we would have been able to provide more medically advanced practice in the clinics we worked in.
Advice
I would advise anyone who has the opportunity to participate in a global impact trip to do so because it opened my eyes to the disparities in health care around the world. This trip provided a unique experience with a new culture and in health care practice.
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Medical Outreach Intern
May - June 2019 • Jarabacoa, La Vega Province
What I liked
Ability to help community, revise hands-on experience in clinical setting and be able to shadow doctors.
What I wish was different
Experience, Group of people.
Advice
It is great resource for student seeking experience in Health Care Field.
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Clinical Assistant
July 2018 • Jarabacoa, La Vega Province
What I liked
This provided me with great medical experience and cultural experience in a beautiful country.
What I wish was different
I wish we were able to see more patients.
Advice
I would recommend putting yourself out there and talking to the patients about their lives to learn their experiences. Even if you have rudimentary Spanish, they are very patient, kind, and receptive to you.
