In March of 2005, Mission of Hope, Bolivia hosted a second team of fourth year, graduating medical students from the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa. These students teamed up with students from the Catholic University of Santa Cruz to examine patients in our clinic. All of the students worked under the supervision of Dr. Mike Morse and Dr. Steve Meixel, faculty members of the University of Oklahoma, and Dr. Gomez, a faculty member of the Catholic University.

The students had many opportunities to visit public hospitals in and around Santa Cruz where they saw patients with leprosy, leishmaniasis, and other diseases not commonly seen in the US.  At the invitation of South America Mission’s physician,  Dr. Toni Mercado, the students visited an Ayore Indian village outside of the city where they set up a medical and dental clinic and pharmacy. 

When the students arrived at the Ayore Indian village, they set up a makeshift medical clinic inside of a church. In the picture to the left, Cara, Amy and Rose are setting up the pharmacy.

Examining tables were set up inside of the church. Here you see Andrew Morse examining a baby from the local Indian village.

The village children were so excited to have the team there. After the exams were finished, the kids and the doctors played ring around the rosey. (It seems the students were having more fun than the kids.)

The students also took time to play a little volleyball with the village kids. All of the students agreed that this outreach was one of the highlights of their trip to Bolivia.

Dr. Gomez, Dr. Morse, and Dr. Meixel also had a good time supervising the students.