The work of a PeaceHealth El Salvador Medical Mission begins long before we actually arrive in El Salvador. Months ahead of time, Kathy Garcia, PeaceHealth’s PazSalud coordinator, will work to bring together the volunteers and medical supplies needed for a mission.
For this trip, PeaceHealth physicians and staff, independent nurse practitioners, a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace along with optometrists and an optician will embark on the journey to Central America to join two Salvadoran physicians, a Peace Corps volunteer and other Salvadoran volunteers who make up the Mission Team:
- PazSalud
Director-- Sr. Eleanor Gilmore
- Manager
Coordinator--Kathy García
- Pharmacy--Judy
Dupont, Tech, Daniel Pérez, MD, Dr. Silvia Pleitez, MD
- Eye
Team-- Ken Henderson, DO, Bob Davis, DO, George Sisson, DO, Milt Crum, DO,
Heather Simmons, Craig Rixon, Jill Hambly, LPN, Vicki McLean, RN, Sr. Susan
DeWitt, CSJP, and
translator- Vicky Guillen
- Pediatrics—Lauren Herbert, MD, Dale Heisinger, MD, with translator Rachel Lee
- Women’s--
Michele Ingram, ARNP, with translation help from Salvadorans Sr. Vilma and
Adele
- Medical--
Ron Stock, MD, with translator Elaine Rees and Dr. Laura Jakious, MD, with
translator Cornelia Herrera, Melissa Doherty, MD, with translator Maria de
la Cruz (Peace Corp Volunteer)
- Photo
Journalist--Retha Porter
The
evening before our flight, most of the team converges at the Courtyard Marriott
in Seattle, taking over an entire conference room, unloading and repacking our
great tubs of wellness—medical supplies, vitamins and even hand-knit baby caps
(courtesy one of the optometrist’s mothers). Each person is allowed to check
in two tubs up to 50 pounds each and we will spend the evening—repackaging
vitamins and other supplies into the tubs, carefully weighing each one to make
sure it isn’t over the airline’s 50-pound limit.
This
packing party is a good opportunity to become acquainted; Vicky Guillen, one of
our translators, gives some lessons in Spanish 101.
We work late into the night, under amazing organizational talents of
Kathy Garcia. In just 5-6 hours we’ll board the plane and begin our journey.
Packing
Party On
Judy
Dupont's "pour" action