Project: Bringing Quality Health Care to the People of Haiti
Fellow: Lynn Malec
Mentor:

Fellow Bio:
I am originally from Madison and completed my undergraduate work at the UW. During college I was a volunteer with Hospice and the Madison Community Health Center, as well as a tutor at Sennett Middle School. I recently returned to Madison after spending a year in Portland, OR. In Portland I volunteered extensively at Outside In, an agency located in the downtown that provides services primarily for homeless youth. As a volunteer in the medical clinic I was exposed to the wide range of needs of the homeless as well as those of the many transgendered clients that seek services at Outside In. In the future I plan to pursue a career in pediatrics, possibly focusing on adolescent medicine.

Project Description:

INPUTS and ACTIVITIES: During the summer of 2003 I plan to travel to Thiotte, Haiti to participate in a medical mission with members of Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin. Together we will work to provide quality health care to the people of Thiotte, a city of 20,000 in southeastern Haiti, and the surrounding communities. Following work in Thiotte, I will travel to Port au Prince to continue work as a volunteer at Nos Petit FrĖres et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters). Nos Petit Freres et Soeurs is a children's hospital where up to 100 children receive long-term care, and many others come for outpatient services. Children, many of them orphans, are commonly treated for tuberculosis, parasites, skin diseases, malnutrition and AIDS.

SHORT TERM OUTCOMES: During my stay in Haiti I hope to help to provide quality health care to the people of Thiotte as well as care for and nurture many of the sick children at Nos Petit FrĖres et Soeurs.

FINAL OUTCOMES: After returning from Haiti I will develop an evaluation form for other students who participated in international programs following their first year of medical school to evaluate their experiences. Using this form I plan to create a resource (manual or website) to be used in the future by other first year students interested in international health. In doing so, I hope to promote benificial programs and encourage students interested in international health.

Project Goals:

  • Learn more about common barriers to health in Haiti.
  • Establish connections between UW medical students and Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin and various other organizations/programs in Haiti.
  • Promote beneficial programs in various countries.
  • Encourage more students to participate in international health programs while in medical school, especially following completion of their first year.

Challenges and Solutions:

    Next Steps:
    Locus Project Objectives and Key Tasks Target Date for Completion
    Completion of Evaluation Form August 18, 2003
    Collecting evaluations from other students November 1, 2003
    Completion of resource manual/website February 1, 2004
    Resource Needs:

      Last update:

      September 13, 2002

      Graduation Requirements Progress Chart
      If you complete the requirements outlined below, you will graduate as a LOCUS fellow.

      A check indicates the item has been completed.

      Completed When What On-line
      check Year 1: Beginning of Semester 2 New Project Report Submit Report
        Year 2: Beginning of Semester 1 Project Update Submit Update
        Year 2: Beginning of Semester 2 Project Update Submit Update
        Year 3: Beginning of third year Project Update Submit Update
        Year 4: August of fourth year 2-3 page final summary of project that includes a reflective evaluation of the project process N/A
        Ongoing Participate in program evaluation (written and/or focus group) View Options
        By the end of fourth year Select poster, presentation, paper, creative option or your own idea View Options

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      © 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Family Medicine