David Ley, MD
(Honduras Brigade '10)
When I started in medical school, I was like most of us young physicians; hoping to make a difference and save the world (and actually thinking that I might). I have been in family practice for 15 years now, and although I having been doing lots of good for my patients and the local community, the altruistic feelings that lead me to medicine originally have been less and less and it has felt more like a business than a calling. This recent trip to Honduras sparked that youthful feeling that I once had. Working with the undergrads and medical students from Dalhousie University and the Mayo Clinic was a great experience. At the end of the day, we were tired, but actually felt like we made a difference, because we had! These villagers were so appreciative of even the smallest assistance. It has been the highlight of my career to date. I did not think of myself as the type of person that would go off on one of these "adventures", but I am glad that I did, and I would encourage any colleagues that are even the slightest interested to give it a closer look. One week out of our career is a small price to pay to help our citizens of the world. These people did not ask to be born into poverty, and if could have just as likely been any of us.
Bernice Dias, MD
(Ghana trip '11)
I went to Ghana in August 2011, with a Global Brigade student group from Dalhousie, Halifax, NS. As a family doctor in a small town, I had long planned to do volunteer medical service but this was the first time it all came together. That 10-day experience was incredible. Originally from India I was no stranger to poverty and tropical disease, yet the gritty courage of the village and general cheerfulness in poverty left me in awe. I believe, I learned about life from those simple people, as much as they did from me about caring for their medical needs. Certainly the medication and eyeglasses we handed out were limited in their usefulness, but I do believe we showed them that people care. With life expectancy barely hitting 50 years coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity were remarkably absent. Even more striking was that we did not see any depression, anxiety, behavior disorders, or fibromyalgia! I figured subsistence farming and fishing left no room for such problems, public health, sanitation and nutrition are the crying need there. Would I go again? In a heartbeat! The work was made easier and actually "joyful" by the infectious enthusiasm of the students. I cannot overlook the hard work they put in prior to, during and after the trip. Hats off to each of them!