On her first service trip to Guatemala in August 2024 as a Salus at Drexel University Physical Assistant (PA) Studies program student, Christine Atamian ‘25PA was able to see a patient, gather a history, perform a physical exam, present the case to one of the providers on the trip, give the patient medications as well as provide education on their concerns. It was, quite simply, an amazing experience, according to Atamian.
“The patients were all so grateful for even the smallest of items we could provide them, and they listened to all of our medical advice wholeheartedly,” she said.
One of the experiences of the weeklong trip that stood out to her was with an elderly female patient whose anxiety was so severe that it reduced her to tears.
Atamian watched one of her Salus/Drexel professors speak to the woman, explaining breathing exercises and other techniques to help her manage her acute anxiety.
“As we were leaving shortly after, I saw the patient speaking to another woman outside the clinic and explaining to her the same relaxing techniques that we explained to her,” said Atamian. “It put into perspective that treating a patient is not always about prescribing a medication and sending them home, but it’s about adjusting care to what they need and what they have access to.”
The trip to Zacapa, Guatemala, was sponsored by the humanitarian organization, Hearts in Motion, and included 12 students and two faculty members from Salus/Drexel, Cara Orr, PA-C, and Jeanne-Marie Pucillo, DHSc, MSPAS, PA-C. In addition, the contingent included another Physician Assistant, a medical doctor, a registered nurse and six non-medical volunteers.
The group saw 600 patients in clinics and provided multivitamins alone to an additional 88 individuals, making the total impact 688 people. In addition to providing basic healthcare in pop-up medical clinics in five different communities, the group also distributed 75 bucket-system water filters and 120 menstrual kits to provide sustainable resources for the recipients.
Atamian said the experience taught her to not judge someone based off of their concerns and their presentation.
“Although many patients presented with the same chief complaints, they all are different people and deserve to be cared for as an individual, not as part of a generic treatment plan,” she said. “The trip also showed me how fortunate many of us are to have access to healthcare when we need it, and that is something we should not take for granted.”
Atamian would definitely recommend to her fellow PA students participating in a service trip. She called it “a very unique experience that is a blessing.”
“I wanted to become a PA because we play a huge role in increasing the provider pool, allowing more patients to have access to care,” she said. “We work closely with many other providers including physicians which gives a good balance of autonomy and collaboration.”
