Schools of Nursing/Pharmacy Global Health Trip 2020

Who we are

We are a group of 16 nursing and pharmacy students who will be participating in a global health trip to San Jose, Costa Rica in March 2020.

Our connection with Costa Rica

The Schools of Pharmacy and Nursing have rich traditions in global health. The School of Nursing has had a long-term partnership with a university in Nicaragua, while the School of Pharmacy has a relationship with a non-profit organization working in Haiti. Adapting our individual experiences, the Schools have decided to come together to work in interprofessional fashion with a new longitudinal initiative in San Jose, Costa Rica.

In March 2019, pharmacy faculty Jordan Covvey and Kevin Tidgewell accompanied six students to San Jose to work on a week-long medical services trip, further details of which are located here. The students provided health assessments for children in schools and daycares, assisted in the provision of referrals for further medical care, and worked collaboratively with a physician in a clinic. This work was done in concert with Maximo Nivel, a local organization in San Jose coordinating volunteer activities and projects. A couple months after this trip, nursing faculty Yvonne Weideman and Amber Kolesar also traveled to San Jose. During this trip, the faculty visited several clinical sites and furthered the relationship with Maximo Nivel and medical partners in San Jose.

For 2020, we have arranged a joint trip between the two schools to continue our work with Maximo Nivel. We are excited for the opportunity for our students to learn together collaboratively, while helping to serve on needed projects in Costa Rica.

Facts about Costa Rica

• Costa Rica hosts more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity even though its landmass only takes up 0.03% of the planet’s surface.
• In 2015, 99% of Costa Rica’s energy was generated from renewable sources, with a publicly declared goal of being carbon-neutral by 2021.
• Healthcare in Costa Rica is of excellent quality, but some individuals (such as temporary immigrant populations) have limited access to the system and cannot afford normal care.

Our plans for this trip

Continuing our work from last year, we will be travelling again to San Jose this year. Students will be spending their Spring Break donating their time, money and energy to assist with local healthcare needs. The week will include daily work on healthcare initiatives coordinated with Maximo Nivel in local neighborhoods. Students will also sharpen their Spanish skills, learn about local culture, and visit unique areas of the city and country.

Our impacts in Costa Rica and here at Duquesne University

Our global health mission focuses on building a long-lasting relationship with partners, and focusing on locally-communicated needs. Maximo Nivel is a consistent presence in the San Jose community, coordinating community projects in a variety of different areas.

Through this type of service work, a transformational change in our students occurs, where their eyes and hearts become more open to the world around them. They are able to apply Duquesne’s mission of service within their own profession, and see the changes they can make in the world.

It is also our hope that students will appreciate the experience of an interdisciplinary trip and carry that forward as they enter their professional careers.

What your donations provide

Our students financially support this trip and the associated expenses, on top of significant student loans to complete their education. Therefore, any donation is helpful to allow us to offset costs for their time in San Jose, and for the work they are doing with local personnel.

• $10: water and lunch for a student team member to carry for the day
• $25: lodging for one night for one student in shared accommodation
• $50: transportation and Spanish translation services for the team for one day
• $100: six months of vitamins for ten children to receive supplementation

Please Donate Today and Spread the Word on Social Media

We ask that you please donate today, share our page with friends and family and follow along for updates at #NursingAndPharmDUzCR

Thank you!