Volunteers 2009 - A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic outside of Santiago, Dominican Republic.

2009 Volunteers

A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

In January, 2009, Julie Ellis, PhD, Director of Engineering at the University of Southern Maine brought three seniors, Caleb Field, Michael Seitz and Travis Turner, to evaluate the access to water in La Tinajita. After two weeks of measurements and on-site inspection, the team met with the community and then spent the semester preparing the best solution.

In May, Julie, Caleb, Michael and an interpreter, Robin Hetzler, returned with their plans and donated money to begin the work. Starting with a re-inspection and a community meeting, the community stayed involved in the solution and did all the work that the donated materials provided. When the two weeks were completed, so were a reservoir, new valves at the second reservoir, metal tops for both reservoirs for the upper portion of La Tinajita and 1,100 feet of underground tubing that feed two tinaco’s (plastic water containers; 300 gallons each) that resulted in cleaner water with more pressure for the lower end of La Tinajita. Julie plans to return with her new title as Director of Engineering at the University of Western Kentucky and students to resolve the lack of water in the middle of the pueblo.

Julie Ellis, PhD, Director of Engineering at the University of Southern Maine brought three seniors, Caleb Field, Michael Seitz and Travis Turner volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Nicole Diaz, an undergraduate at Smith College, gave educational talks at various sites on the mountain on Human Pamplona Virus and signed up women for January’s Pap Day. It was the largest Pap Day to date!

Susan Andrews, R.N. returned for a short visit in January and assisted Nicole with our Parasite Campaign and a thousand other tasks in the clinic.

Mira McEwan, R.N. was visiting the Dominican Republic for a month and took a week to work at the clinic, visit homes and care for our community. She left a copy of her book of poems for future volunteers to enjoy.

George Aghia returned in January from a December rotation in radiation at Boston University and spent the next four months hosting Internal Medicine groups from Brown University and Boston University and igniting the Boy’ Club in Benito Martinez. He also lent his computer skills to stream-line Foundation processes.

James Lesher, Katelyn LoPorto, Sofie Mekuria and James St. John spent their Spring Break of 2009 visiting all the homes in Tinajita, checking blood pressures and blood sugars and providing soap and antibiotic crème to all.

Kristan Diaz, M.D. previously visited as a medical student with the Brown Internal Medicine group in 2006. As a Resident at Texas Tech in Corpus Christi, she expanded the international health programs by being approved to have a rotation at Pequeños Pasitos.

Doctor Ric Rios used his chiropractic skills on three patients a day for the week he was volunteering. The results were tremendous and we are maintaining a list of appointments in anticipation of his return!

Bob Pressman, PhD, used his badly needed skills in child psychology to intervene with six children and their families for the week he was here. Each evening he gave an educational talk in one of our communities.

Nicole Diaz volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Beth Bauer, PhD, brought her Brown University class to Benito Martinez to begin an on-going study of the area history, the attitudes, hopes and dreams of the residents and share their friendship to the community.

Mark Bauer, M.D., PhD, brought his psychiatry skills to many people in the community suffering with mental disorders. Psychiatry is in its infancy in the Dominican Republic and Dr. Bauer’s extensive experience made great strides in the care of this under-served population.

Mira McEwan, R.N. volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

George Aghia volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

James Lesher and James St. John volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Katelyn LoPorto and Sofie Mekuria volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Bob Pressman, PhD, volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Mark Bauer, M.D., PhD, volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Beth Bauer, PhD, volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Deborah Ribera, founder of Beyond the Block (www.beyondtheblock.org), volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Linda Rexford, M.D. volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Linda Rexford, M.D. continued her positive impact on the infant mortality rate of the area by spending a day with the new teenage moms and their newborns. A pediatrician in Providence, RI, Dr. Rexford teaches our first time mothers how to care for their baby during the critical first year of life given the environment in which they live.

Deborah Ribera, founder of Beyond the Block (www.beyondtheblock.org) spent two weeks documenting the classrooms, home work environment, the Clinic and the community to share with students in the USA what other children face to receive an education.

Julie, Caleb, Michael and an interpreter, Robin Hetzler volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Susan Andrews, R.N. volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Kristan Diaz, MD, volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

Dr. Ric Rios volunteering at A Mother's Wish Foundation - Operating Pequenos Pasitos, a clinic and community center outside of Santiago, Domincan Republic.

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