The Siena community helped make an impact during a recent health care service trip to Guatemala.
Three recent alumnae – Elham Malik ’22, Mouda Al-Zaydan ’23 and Shriya Matta ’23 – traveled to rural locations in the Central American country during winter break to help arrange and staff free medical/dental clinics. They participated through their involvement with the international relief agency Humanity First (HF) and the HF Healthcare USA’s Nasir Hospital; this trip was organized by HF's University of Michigan chapter. Both organizations work together to respond to the humanitarian need in Guatemala via poverty alleviation, equitable health care services, and education.
Before their trip, the team quickly put together a health supply drive, accepting donations of first aid items, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, shampoo and more to distribute to the residents of the villages they visited. Thanks to the Siena campus and several local houses of worship and other non-profits, they were able to bring 1,500 items with them, far exceeding their collection goal. Siena’s Nursing Department and the Center for Academic Community Engagement (ACE) provided a major assist to the effort.
Isha Khan ’26, an associate in the ACE office, helped organize and pack up all the donations for the trip.
“I was determined to collaborate with my team on how to decorate and place the collection boxes efficiently, where we would be able to collect as many supplies as possible,” said Khan. “Though I was not at the forefront of this trip, I learned a lot about how marketing plays into donations for those who need them.”
Malik, currently working as a consultant and strategist with Global Lawyers for Refugees Worldwide in Washington, D.C., and will soon be applying to dental school.
“Our group set out to learn more about the health care struggles faced by rural Guatemalans and to provide culturally competent health care to these disadvantaged populations,” said Malik. “We received actual clinical exposure and a much better understanding of what these communities are truly facing.”
HF is planning their next trip in March to Guyana. Malik said it is hoped that Siena can start its own chapter on campus.
“Humanity First is an excellent organization not only for future health care providers, but for anyone studying government, social work or a related field,” she said.
Michigan students Omar Chowdhary and Nikhila Anand, leaders of the university's HF chapter, co-directed the trip.
Matta and Al-Zaydan are both currently serving as AmeriCorps VISTA fellows. They work as community coaches through the Community of Excellence program in Saratoga Springs, and will soon be applying to medical school.
“This trip really reaffirmed my decision to go into medicine,” said Matta. “I watched as a translator stayed with a woman who had not seen a health care provider for a long time; the woman was crying, and translator let go of formalities and sat with her to comfort her. It shows how little we have to do to show simple compassion.”
Al-Zaydan was inspired to plan for a master’s degree in public administration in addition to her future medical studies.
“Some of the physicians we worked with said their hands are tied in terms of helping patients because of how corrupt the government is about funding health care initiatives,” she said. “I want to learn how to have a positive effect on policy making so health care resources can be allocated responsibly.”