PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR A LASTING PARTNERSHIP IN THE Dominican Republic

BY DR. CAYLA LANIER, ASSISTANT DEAN, SARASOTA-MANATEE CAMPUS AND DR. LINDY DAVIDSON, ASSOCIATE DEAN, CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, nine groups of Judy Genshaft Honors College students have travelled to the Dominican Republic to volunteer in mobile medical clinics under the direction of Dr. Reginald Kerolle and the Kerolle Initiative for Community Health. One of the results of this long-standing partnership is the opportunity for students to build upon the ideas and work of previous groups to increase the impact of our visits for the local communities we serve.

During our Winter 2019 trip, students planted 40 plantain trees in the small community of Valedor in order to improve access to basic and nutritious food staples. In Spring 2022, we helped harvest plantains from the fully grown trees and learned that these plantains were the second harvest; the first had occurred during the height of the pandemic when food was least available. The plantains provided complex carbohydrates and key nutrients to the hundreds of children living in the community.

2019 - Students plant plantain trees

2022 - Students harvest plantains

Ryan Shargo (‘22), a student on the Winter 2019 trip, “returned” to work with Dr. Kerolle through a virtual internship in 2020. He collected and analyzed data from clinical interactions to determine the most prevalent chronic illnesses. He then used his findings to create infographic health education materials that the Spring 2022 group delivered to Dr. Kerolle. Our Fall 2022 group presented these materials in a Community Health Fair to educate community members on preventative measures and at-home treatments for common illnesses.

As co-leaders of this program, we alternate leading the trips while building our curriculum, student projects, and in-country activities upon our shared knowledge and experience of previous trips. We also frequently connect with Dr. Kerolle to determine trending needs in the Dominican Republic to offer just-in-time solutions to emerging issues. Our collaboration is a model for student collaborations, as they continue to build on each others’ ideas over time. Each successive trip to the Dominican Republic allows us to water the seeds of our partnership and continue to bear fruit for our students’ learning outcomes and the community members we serve in the DR.