Lending a helping hand in Honduras: How Buckeyes Without Borders spent spring break

Five days, 450 patients. For Buckeyes Without Borders, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for health professional students, spring break looked a little different.

On March 11, a 20-person medical brigade consisting of pharmacy students, pharmacists and physicians traveled to Santa Lucia, Honduras, to provide medical services to underserved communities. 

Participants worked five clinic days rotating through three stations: intake, providers and pharmacy. At the intake station, volunteers collected patients’ vitals, past medical history, drug allergies and chest complaints. At the provider's station, patients met with a doctor to discuss treatment options, and each student had the opportunity to shadow a provider for the day. At pharmacy, volunteers filled medications, provided counseling and dispensed the prescriptions to each patient.

The Buckeyes Without Borders trip coordinators developed the drug formulary and provided all medications for the trip. 

"Outside of the clinic, we had the chance to explore towns throughout Honduras and interact with their culture through eating at restaurants and visiting local shops," PharmD candidate Gabrielle Gearhart said.