December
3, 2018 -- Just after completing exams and checking off
another trimester this summer, seven female DC students packed their bags and chiropractic
tables and headed south to Quito, Ecuador, for clinic abroad, eager to put
their knowledge to use on real patients.
The inspiration for the trip came from Lizzie
Rooker-Ortega, Trimester 10 student, who met her husband in Ecuador on a
volunteer trip three years ago. “It’s always been a big focus of mine to give
back to communities,” Lizzie said. Along with help from her husband and
mother-in-law, Lizzie coordinated the 10-day trip, including travel
arrangements, itineraries and a partnership with a local university.
The students, all of whom are current or past members
of the Executive Board of Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) at Logan, were
accompanied by Erica Hackett, DC, FIAMA, clinician and instructor, and
Charlotte Meier, DC (2017). WLC partnered with Instituto Tecnologico Superior
Esculapio, a naturopathic university in Quito, to give health exams to
patients, provide chiropractic adjustments and share nutrition and exercise
tips.
“First and foremost, the goal was to help the people of
Ecuador,” Lizzie said. “Chiropractic is poorly known in South America, and the
people of Ecuador are underserved in terms of health.”
The trip also served as a learning opportunity for the
students—four of whom were entering the clinics for the first time upon their
return to Logan—as well as exposure for chiropractic and the University. “Any
international outreach for chiropractic and Logan is huge,” Lizzie said. “There
are so many aspects of someone’s life that can be impacted through chiropractic—whether
it’s physical, nutritional or emotional.”
As patients came into the temporary clinic, Logan
students used a translator to ask questions and understand the patient’s
complaint. From there, the students consulted with Dr. Hackett regarding a
patient plan and got to work adjusting and teaching at-home exercises and
posture tips. They treated patients who had previously suffered from cancer, a
heart attack, a kidney ablation, cramping or pain throughout the body, among
other complaints—more complicated cases than the students typically encountered
in St. Louis, Lizzie said.
Throughout the five days of clinic, WLC saw more than
100 patients, and they treated each patient at least twice. They even referred
some patients back to the naturopathic institute to continue care.
“People are in pain for so long that it affects them emotionally,
too. The better they feel, the better they want to live, and the better they
want to take care of themselves,” Lizzie said. “By experiencing these cases and
treating these patients, we were able to grow and be challenged as health care
providers and really focus on providing high-quality patient care.”
In addition to treating patients, the women spent time
exploring the city. They saw the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, the monument marking
the equator where visitors can stand with one foot in each hemisphere; the
Monument to Independence; waterfalls and more.
“A personal goal of mine was for the other students and
staff to experience a different way of life in Ecuador,” Lizzie said. “It is a
very special place to me with a beautiful culture and beautiful people. Logan
helped give me the tools and opportunities to give back to the people of
Ecuador, and do so with my fellow students.”
