VIDA - Pre-Med Team

VIDA enables volunteers to get real clinical experience in the culturally rich environment. In the clinics, I learned how to take patient histories, take vitals (including blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, and heart and lung sounds), give abdominal exams, witness PAP smears, and even begin to diagnose and recommend medications. In addition, VIDA immerses students in the Nicaraguan culture by placing students in host families and side-trips to local tourist sites. The staff was enormously helpful with translating and informing our group on local customs and history. I felt that I left Nicaragua with a much broader sense of their culture and greater wealth of clinical knowledge. I highly recommend this trip to any pre-med student with a sense of adventure and interest in other cultures!