Global Health Engagement – Team Philippines Update #3
Hello to all,
This is our last and final blogpost as we have completed our time in the Philippines and will be flying out Saturday, July 28. We thought you would appreciate hearing from each person on the team, so below is a message from each person:
The final week was great, we got to meet some amazing people at the Philippines Heart Center and we learned a lot of interesting treatments they do in their cardiac unit, post cardiac surgery, and for many other conditions. Bittersweet week! Since we leave many great friends and teachers that have been nothing but gracious and inviting to their lives and their generous work! We appreciate the opportunities that this trip has provided, we have expanded our knowledge in the Philippines health care system, learned about their culture, and learned about the love for God that our brothers and sisters have here in the Philippines, we will truly miss them!
-Sandra Veronica
My experience this last week was very eye opening as I got to see more of a range of different patients with different diagnoses. I really appreciated the interns and staff as they came along side us and taught us about the things they do on a daily basis and also about their healthcare facility and how it operates. I took a lot away from this experience as a whole, here in the Philippines and I will never forget it. I am grateful to have had such an amazing team and leaders and can’t wait to get back home and share about all of the fun.
-Dominique
My last week, spent at the Philippine Heart Center, included some of my favorite experiences. I assisted in physical therapy treatment for stroke and spinal cord injury patients and learned about one of the country’s top cardiac rehabilitation units. This week was full of bittersweet goodbyes but was the perfect ending to a remarkable trip. Thank you for your prayers—we are excited to return and share our memories with all of you.
-Nicole
During week 3 of our Global Health Engagement, I learned a lot. We worked at the Philippine Heart Center and it was a lot of fun. I learned about the Cardiac Rehab Program as well as many other things. Overall, my 3 weeks here in the Philippines was AMAZING! I learned so much about the healthcare system and the culture. It has been a very humbling yet fun experience that I will always cherish.
-Nancy
I was paired with two interns at the USTH in our last week but we did not take care of many patients. When we were not helping with other’s patient loads, we had a great time talking and learning more about each other. As it turns out, building relationships with interns and students throughout these three weeks has turned out to be my favorite part of this whole trip.
-Christen
Our half of the team spent time in the rehab center at UST Hospital this week. We were paired with an intern and given the opportunity to observe their patients throughout the week. I really enjoyed hearing the patients’ stories and interacting with the healthcare professionals and interns in the hospital and at the various sites. Throughout our time here, I was constantly learning about rehabilitative care, healthcare in the Philippines, and how my interests and abilities relate to our experiences. I am so thankful for the exposure that this trip provided and the work that God is doing through healthcare in the Philippines.
-Megan
Hi there, this week at the Philippine Heart Center went by so fast. We have been able to consistently build relationships at each clinical site, and the Philippine Heart Center did not ruin the streak! It has been such an amazing experience here in the Philippines, and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to work here. Salamat Po!
-Bree
This week I worked at the UST hospital. I was able to form some meaningful relationships with the staff while helping them with their patients. It is bittersweet leaving the Philippines and our new friends here, but I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with my friends and family back home.
-Erin
Friends and family, this final week was incredible as we were able to work hands-on doing exercises and activities with stroke, spinal cord injury, or open-heart surgery patients. We were also able to build new friendships and make new connections with other healthcare professionals, but also with brothers and sisters from the church that we attended last Sunday (and that we tried to attend this past Thursday too!). This whole trip has been very eye-opening: I have learned so much, experienced so many new things, and made so many new friends. Gaining experience in overseas healthcare has provided some valuable insight as to what a future in overseas healthcare could look like for me.
-Lizzy
Having the opportunity to intern at the UST Hospital during week three was a never-ending learning experience. The interns and PTs there were extremely hospitable and helpful in every possible way. I learned what type of patients they treated as well as the center’s policies. Overall, my GHE experience was humbling and worth more than I could ever have had imagined, I will always carry the beautiful memories made with everyone on this team and the new friendships created with the locals here. Grateful for being part of GHE Philippines 2018!
-Michelle
Over the past three weeks we really appreciated having the opportunity to live a different kind of teaching/learning experience. As professors, most of our interaction with students occurs in the classroom. We enjoyed building relationships with and guiding our students through this time of spiritual formation, cultural immersion, and professional experience. Our students showed us they were willing to learn, capable of jumping in hands-on, and willing to be both flexible and adventurous. Visiting the various health care facilities helped to expand our world view and our professional understanding of health care delivery and health education. We also appreciated having some time together as colleagues to extend our professional work and grow our friendship. We will laugh and shake our heads for years to come about the jeepney rides, getting soaked while waiting for our driver during a typhoon, and our epidemiological abilities that enabled us to anticipate and avoid germs while abroad (inside joke). Thanks to our family and friends for your support and prayers during our journey.
-Dr. Jessica Miller and Dr. Marshare Penny
Thank you for reading our blog. As we return home please pray for:
• Safe travels
• Continued and intentional relationships with our new Filipino friends
• Coping strategies for reverse culture shock
• Our jet-lag recuperation as many of us are going to hit the ground running when we return
• Continued health when we return home
-GHE Philippines 2018
