Four physician assistant studies faculty members accompanied 14 students with the St. Bonaventure chapter of Students Without Borders on a medical mission to the Dominican Republic, March 18-25.

The faculty included (from left above) Kesha Steighner, clinical assistant professor; Jeffrey Szymanski, clinical assistant professor and director of didactics; Dr. James Tkacik, clinical assistant professor and director of clinical education; and Dr. Keith Young, associate professor and founding director of the PA Studies program.

Students provided medical care to more than 240 patients at the clinic site in Batey Olivares. The faculty served as preceptors for each patient and the students worked in pairs providing medicine and medical education for conditions ranging from infections to chronic conditions. 

The contingent thanked Dr. Raul Vazquez and his wife, Toni, for providing support for this medical mission including providing food for many of the families of Batey Olivares and surrounding villages. 

Young offered this comment from a student: "This trip has changed our lives forever. In addition to helping others we have gained a great deal of knowledge about ourselves. The impact that one person can have has inspired us to do even more."