Today on White Coat Wednesday we discuss the international elective opportunity: Floating Doctors in Panama. We sit down with UQ-Ochsner Pediatric Clerkship Director Dr Anna Suessman, interviewed by Monique Salazar, a UQ-Ochsner fourth-year medical student.
Floating Doctors was created in 2010 and is a non-profit organization delivering healthcare, education and community development to underserved communities. Dr Suessman has been working with the organization since 2012 and coordinates the trip for students interested in global healthcare.
Based in and around the island of Bocas del Toro in Panama, the NGO visits and serves approximately 20 nearby islands and the indigenous population that inhabits them. Dr Suessman shares the struggles of residents who have limited or inexistant access to healthcare. The program in place aims to be a sustainable one whereby the visits are scheduled every three months, relationships are created and patients are given enough medication to cover the time in between visits.
As a physician, Dr Suessman explains how much of an imprint children and adult patients leave on her and every member of the team during each visit. The group travels by canoe and the clinics run all day and into the evenings, providing assistance for a range of medical condition with the help of nurse and an interpreter.
“The appreciation of those who have no or limited access is unparalleled. It makes you realise the privilege that we have in the US even with the obstacles we have.” Dr Suessman said.
Dr Suessman shares the hardship people have to overcome to attend the clinics like families walking for 28 hours to receive healthcare. She shares how much of an impact the patients have on her and the students, and the relationships that get created for years to come.
We get more detail about the application process and deadlines for students interested in joining future trips. This year’s trip is coming up at the end of November with seven UQ-Ochsner medical students who will be joining the team, as well as three Ochsner Health nurses. Monique Salazar our interviewer will be joining the journey to Panama and we look forward to hearing from her upon her return.
