After graduating my Wake Forest University in May 2009, I was fortunate to receive a pair of scholarships that literally took me across the world. I was stationed principally in Santiago, Chile and Granada, Spain. Being from Avon Park, FL—a rural town located south of Orlando—and having almost no international experience, I was enthralled by the constant influx of fresh cultural perspectives and the unique world views that I had yet to experience in the US. These revelatory trips have formed the cornerstone of my passion for global medicine and ignited my desire to continue seeking similar international experiences.
Thank you for your generous donation which made my trip to the Dominican Republic possible. It was humbling as well as inspiring to see a people manage with few resources and little governmental aid. However, it would be false to believe that such conditions can continue. Hopefully, we can improve the health care delivery in that area through the connections that were made with physicians and university officials of the Jarabacoa region as well as the continued philanthropy from the Orlando community. Such endeavors not only contribute to better our neighboring international community, but they also improve students’ cultural competency and ability to adapt to an ever connected global society. I sincerely appreciated this invaluable didactic opportunity.
Robert C. Palmer, M1