The Sights on Health team just returned from their John Shanley M.D. M.P.H. Medical & Eye Care Mission in the Sacred Valley of Peru. It was an extremely successful mission; 815 people were examined in the medical and eye clinics.   The clinics were held in the Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities located in the towns of Calca, Maras and Urubamba.

• 313 patients were examined in the Medical Clinic
• 134 patients were examined in the Pediatric Clinic
• 15 ultrasound examinations were performed in the clinic
• 353 patients were examined in the Eye Clinic
• 40 patients were referred to CEPRECE clinic & to MOH Cuzco Norde Ocular Health Program for cataract surgery.
• Over 70 patients received Visual Disability Certificates as part of the Contigo, a Ministry of Health program. After their exams with our eye care professionals, these patients with severely impaired vision will qualify for a monthly benefit from the Peruvian government. This is a new program and Sights on Health made an important contribution to this program, as there are not enough eyecare professionals in Peru to perform the necessary examinations for the large number of patients that exist in the Sacred Valley.

Sights on Health worked with our four long standing partners and we are grateful to not only have a strong working relationship with them but also after so many years, we have developed friendships with them.

• Many thanks to Mike Cipoletti and FNE International for his in country logistical support of our Sights on Health team. He works with our team & Dr. Morales in the months leading up to the mission to ensure the clinic schedule is complete as well as securing safe ground transportation for the team and comfortable & clean lodging (thanks to Kiki and his wife who own the two houses where Sights on Health stayed).
• A special acknowledgement to Dr. Victor Rozas and the Peruvian American Medical Society (PAMS) for their continued support of our efforts in Peru.  Every year, they work with us in order to obtain the necessary temporary medical licenses and documentation from the Peruvian Government and the Ministry of Health.
• Many thanks to Francisco Morales, M.D. of Asociacion Winaypaq, Cuzco, Peru.  He works for the seven months before the mission with Drs. Messina, Coritsidis and Triller to ensure we have the proper medications and decides which towns are in most need of our clinical expertise. His involvement enables the mission physicians to refer patients with advanced medical and eye conditions for proper follow up with healthcare providers from the Peruvian Ministry of Health. Dr. Morales works with the local ministry of health (MOH), arranges for the facilities for our team to work in.  Through him, he notifies the local communities which kind of specialists will be arriving from the USA to ensure the neediest and most complicated medical cases are evaluated.  Dr. Coritsidis, our Medical Director transports a portable ultrasound unit every year from the USA.  Having the ability to perform an ultrasound examination provides the physicians with additional information to aid in making the correct diagnosis. Dr. Morales is able to refer the patients seen in our clinics for additional follow up care if necessary, to Peruvian physicians.

• Five translators from Asociacion Winaypaq, Cuzco, Peru spent the week with our team. Reyna Almirón, Milagritos Usno and Yolanda Siccos provided translation from Spanish to Quechua (ancient Incan language) and Johana Achancaray and Edu Huaracha provided translations from Quechua to Spanish to English.
• Dr. Silva & CEPRESE provided a nurse Maritza Olarte from his Cusco eye clinic to work with our eye care team for the week and we are grateful for their help.

Thank you to our Sights on Health team for donating their time & talents to make the mission so successful….

• George Coritsidis, M.D.  Medical Director, Team leader, nephrologist, critical care specialist from NY
• Tracey Weisberg, M.D. Internal Medicine from Maine
• Caroline Pombar, M.D. Pediatrician from NY
• Dr. Darren Triller Pharmacist from NY
• Damaris Raymondi, O.D. from NY
• Pauline Leong, O.D. from NY
• Jenny Steffens, P.A. & her daughter Ellen Church from Maryland
• Ana Castaneda Pharmacy Assistant from NY
• Julia Colmenares Eye Clinic Assistant from NY
• Claire Triller SUNY Upstate Medical School, 3rd y medical student
• Maggie Triller, Pace University, 3rd y nursing student
• Tasnin Kahn New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, NY, 1st y medical student
• Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, NY, 1st y medical students:
  Nicholas Brown
  Theresa Gammel
  Alex Freedenberg * student group leader
  Kaitlyn Monroig * student blogger
  Brady Quon * student group leader
  Emelio Woodstock
  Priscilla Young

Date: June 29th, 2019
Location: New York, NY
By Kaitlin Monroig

Our blogger for the John Shanley M.D. M.P.H. 2019 Medical Mission was Kaitlyn Monroig. She is a rising second year medical student from Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, NY. 

After several months of planning, packing, and prepping, the day is finally here! We are so excited to start our journey to Peru. As the day comes to a close, our travels are just beginning! First, we fly from JFK in New York to Lima, Peru. It is expected to be an 8 hour flight. After a 3 hour layover, we will fly from Lima to Cusco, our final destination! Because of Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong right? Currently, 4 of our members do not have a seat secured on the connecting flight from Lima to Cusco. The ticket agent was hopeful that it will work out as we emphasized the importance of our mission and preference to travel as a team! Wish us luck! ¡Vamos!

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DAY 2: You’re hungry again?

Date: June 30th, 2019
Location: Lima and Cusco, Peru
By Kaitlin Monroig

Well, we made it! After some hiccups along the way, the entire NY crew made the connecting flight from Lima to Cusco. There, we met up with the rest of our team who had traveled separately, and headed for our final destination of the day: Urubamba. After everyone was settled in at the air bnb, we set out to explore the town and to satisfy some (very) hungry travelers (even if they already ate an hour before)! Some of us tried a Peruvian staple: Chicha! It’s a drink made from maize that has a long standing cultural and community importance in Peru. After an incredible meal, the team gathered once more to discuss the plan for clinic tomorrow, organizing medications and medical equipment and lastly, and most importantly, the significance of our mission. We have been so fortunate with the education and resources that have been provided to us and we feel it is our responsibility to share those gifts. A Promise to Peru aims to not only provide short term medical attention, but has helped create along with FNE and the local ministry of health, sustainability and continuity of our care for our patients. We are so excited to get started tomorrow, but tonight we sleep! ¡Buenos noches!

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Day 3: ¿Come te sientes hoy?

Date: July 1st, 2019
Location: Calca, Peru
By Kaitlin Monroig

Today we had our first day of clinic in the town of Calca, Peru! It was an early start, we arrived at 8 am to set up and were seeing patients within a half hour. We saw well over 100 patients, and most wanted to see both medical doctors and optometrists. Medical students and undergraduate students were assigned to stations: triage, vital signs, translators for our physicians and physician assistants, diagnostic testing and the pharmacy. On site we had ultrasound and EKG readily available. It was a collective effort by everyone on the team, and for our first day of clinic it went well! We packed up and departed by 5 pm. In the morning we will discuss interesting cases and ideas to create as efficient a process for patients as possible. Tomorrow we are back in Calca for more!

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 Day 4: ¿Puede ver mejor o lo mismo?

Date: July 2, 2019
Location: Calca, Peru
By Kaitlin Monroig

Word spreads quickly in Peru! After a busy day in Calca yesterday, we saw almost twice as many patients today! However, we created a more efficient system for intake and were able to trouble shoot and problem we faced. In addition, our medical students shadowing physicians were able to focus on their history and physical exam taking skills. We saw everything from blurry vision, gastritis, musculoskeletal pain, to even more severe cases of bronchiolitis. The people of Peru have been very kind and understanding. We feel incredibly appreciative of their patience. Tomorrow we will be seeing patients close by in Urubamba!

Today approximately 230 patients were seen in the medical clinic and the eye clinic.

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Day 5: Does walking to clinic count as a workout?

Date: July 3rd, 2019
Location: Urubamba, Peru
By Kaitlin Monroig

Another day, another hundred patients seen! Today we set up clinic at el centro de salud in Urubamba. It is a fully functioning clinic within walking distance from where we are staying. As a group we provided an additional resource for medical and eye care. Ultrasound and diagnostic testing was relied on heavily today and provided much needed insight for clinical decisions. In addition to celebrating our success today in clinic and ability to help those in need, we also celebrated two of our volunteers’ birthdays today! We had an amazing meal as an entire group and enjoyed many laughs (and lots and lots of food)! Tomorrow we are off to Marás! ¡Buenos noches!

Renaissance School of Medicine medical students Theresa Gammel and Kaitlyn Monroig obtaining medical histories for these patients in Urubamba. They will then be seen by one of our physicians. 

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Day 6: We are so fortunate for the gifts we have received

Date: July 4th, 2019
Location: Marás, Peru
By Kaitlin Monroig

We are so fortunate for the gifts we have received and we are thankful you chose to share them.

Today we were in Marás, Peru! Marás is a very small town in the mountains located near a salt mine. We saw over 150 patients between the eye and medicine clinic. Many patients today only spoke Quechua, an indigenous language of Peru. All week we have worked with wonderful native translators who were able to translate from Quechua to Castellano, a language very similar to Spanish. This week has truly been a collaborative effort from everyone involved and we are so appreciate of everyone’s hard work! Although we are here for only a week, we are trying to make a lasting impact on our patients. Tomorrow is our last day of clinic; it is only fitting it is at our home base in Urubamba! ¡Hasta mañana!

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Day 7: ¡Hasta luego, Peru!

Date: July 5th, 2019
Location: Urubamba, Peru
By Kaitlin Monroig

And just like that we finished our last day of clinic! We set up in Urubamba for the last time this week. Although we were only able to stay for a half day, we saw over sixty patients! Over the entire week we saw over 750 patients! All of them were incredibly kind, appreciative, and it was our honor to talk with them, listen to their stories, and help in any way we could. This past week has been an incredible experience and we can only hope we made a difference. Until next year! ¡Gracias a todo!

THANK YOU from all of the team in Peru to Lucky and Laura Bhalla of Ascot Properties NYC, LLC.

Location: Urubamba, Peru

By Kaitlin Monroig

And just like that we finished our last day of clinic! We set up in Urubamba for the last time this week. Although we were only able to stay for a half day, we saw over sixty patients! Over the entire week we saw over 750 patients! All of them were incredibly kind, appreciative, and it was our honor to talk with them, listen to their stories, and help in any way we could. This past week has been an incredible experience and we can only hope we made a difference. Until next year! ¡Gracias a todo!

Dr George Coritsidis – Medical Director & team leader from NY

Mike Cipoletti, FNE, Int’l – In country logistics coordinator from Boston

Tracey Weisberg, M.D. Internal Medicine from Maine

Caroline Pombar, M.D. Pediatrics from NY

Dr. Darren Triller Pharmacist from NY

Damaris Raymondi, O.D.  from NY

Pauline Leong, O.D.  from NY

Jenny Steffens, P.A. & her daughter Ellen Church from Maryland

Ana Castaneda Pharmacy Assistant  from NY

Julia Colmenares Eye Clinic Assistant   from NY

Claire Triller SUNY Upstate Medical School, 3rd y medical student

Maggie Triller, Pace University, 3rd y nursing student

Tasnin Kahn New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, NY, 1st y medical student

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, NY, 1st y medical students:
Nicholas Brown
Theresa Gammel
Alex Freedenberg * student group leader
Kaitlyn Monroig * student blogger
Brady Quon * student group leader
Emelio Woodstock
Priscilla Young

Location: Marás, Peru

By Kaitlin Monroig

We are so fortunate for the gifts we have received and we are thankful you chose to share them.

Today we were in Marás, Peru! Marás is a very small town in the mountains located near a salt mine. We saw over 150 patients between the eye and medicine clinic. Many patients today only spoke Quechua, an indigenous language of Peru. All week we have worked with wonderful native translators who were able to translate from Quechua to Castellano, a language very similar to Spanish. This week has truly been a collaborative effort from everyone involved and we are so appreciate of everyone’s hard work! Although we are here for only a week, we are trying to make a lasting impact on our patients. Tomorrow is our last day of clinic; it is only fitting it is at our home base in Urubamba! ¡Hasta mañana!

Many thanks to Dr. Victor Rozas and his staff at PAMS/Peruvian American Medical Society. Every year since 2012, Dr. Rozas obtains the letter of invitation from the Peruvian Ministry of Health as well as the temporary medical licenses for our healthcare providers. Many hours of behind the scenes work between him, Cathy Roberts and Dr. Messina goes into securing the necessary paperwork which enables our team to practice medicine and surgery in Peru. He sends our documents to the Peruvian Consulate in NYC, NY where it is processed and approved. PAMS and Dr. Rozas also submits a Manifest on our behalf. It includes a list of medications, supplies and equipment to be transported to Peru through Peruvian Customs. THANK YOU DR.ROZAS & PAMS!

Location: Urubamba, Peru

By Kaitlin Monroig

Another day, another hundred patients seen! Today we set up clinic at el centro de salud in Urubamba. It is a fully functioning clinic within walking distance from where we are staying. As a group we provided an additional resource for medical and eye care. Ultrasound and diagnostic testing was relied on heavily today and provided much needed insight for clinical decisions. In addition to celebrating our success today in clinic and ability to help those in need, we also celebrated two of our volunteers’ birthdays today! We had an amazing meal as an entire group and enjoyed many laughs (and lots and lots of food)! Tomorrow we are off to Marás! ¡Buenos noches!

Renaissance School of Medicine medical students Theresa Gammel and Kaitlyn Monroig obtaining medical histories for these patients in Urubamba. They will then be seen by one of our physicians.