Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences News

(October 27, 2008) -

Each year local Rotary Clubs and the University of the Pacific sponsor two Doctor of Physical Therapy students and a faculty member to participate in wheelchair distributions in third world countries. This year two students, Hoang Nguyen, '09 and Valerie Maurer, '09 were selected to accompany Dr. Cathy Peterson and a group of San Joaquin Valley Rotarians to Guatemala where they worked with Hope Haven and Bethel personnel deliver wheelchairs to disabled children and adults.

To prepare for this experience, the Hoang and Valerie met with faculty and students in the Spanish Department to develop and practice phrases commonly used when working with people in wheelchairs. They met with Dr. Laura Bathurst in International Studies to learn about the culture in which they would become immersed. To familiarize themselves with wheelchair adjustments, they met with Physical Therapy faculty member Dr. Katrin Baxter to disassemble, reassemble, and evaluate a pediatric wheelchair.

While in Guatemala, the group customized 232 wheelchairs for people with diagnoses including malnutrition, cerebral palsy, stroke, spinabifida, spinal cord injury, polio, amputation, and diabetes.
"This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life." ~Hoang Nguyen

In addition, they attended a meeting of representatives from a rural Guatemalan community and Rotarians to discuss the need and strategies for funding and creating a clean water project. Clean water is taken for granted in the US, but in third world countries clean water is scarce and the problems stemming from contaminated water are far reaching.

Future opportunities for students and graduates to serve in Guatemala arose from this experience. Hope Haven held a grand opening in Antigua for their wheelchair factory where employees will construct pediatric wheelchairs.

Students and graduates of Pacific's Physical Therapy Program will be invited to visit and conduct work site evaluations to ensure the facility is set up to minimize work-related injuries to the employees. An interesting caveat is that 90% of the employees are wheelchair users themselves.

Students and graduates will also be invited to assist in the construction of the wheelchairs, or to travel to Chimaltenango to assist with refurbishing donated wheelchairs.
Stay tuned for invitations to participate in our international outreach efforts!