Dear friends and family!

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank each and every one of you guys for helping me raise enough funds to volunteer in Ghana this past summer. Without you, it would not have been possible! I am incredibly excited to announce that I have signed up to volunteer in Panama this coming March!

My experience in Ghana touched my heart and life in so many ways, and I will carry that with me. For 10 days, my team and I prepped and held clinic at an elementary school in Ekumfi Srafa Aboano, a small fishing village where there are not running water, electricity, telephones, or sewer. The nearest hospital was over a 1.5 hours drive away, which is a great challenge for the villagers to reach as they do not own cars. At the clinics, we provided dental, OBYGYN, and medical care, as well was teaching health education and giving medications to patients. I was finally able to put my pharmacy education to good use by filling prescriptions in the pharmacy, as well counseled patients how to take their medications properly. Not only did I get to provide medical relief, I also learned so much about Ghanian culture and fell in love with its beautiful people.

As some of you may already know, I found my passion in providing medical relief globally from my first taste of volunteering abroad was during Summer 2006 when I traveled to an impoverished shanty-town called La Carpio in Costa Rica. I created oral hygiene instructions, sanitation habit, proper nutrition and diet, and sex education posters in Spanish for the Costa Rican Humanitarian Clinic. I delivered hundreds of donated medications, fundraised over 5,000 toothbrushes, created a comprehensive health history form that reached out to hundreds of Nicaraguan refugees. Seeing the difference I made overseas inspired me to assist my own community, where I acted as Coordinator for Common Ground, a mobile clinic that provided service for HIV-risk adolescents for four years. In addition, I have helped organize and participated in numerous health fairs thorough Southern California for over 4 years.

My passion and drive did not end there. Upon being elected for SSHP Healthcare Coordinator, I coordinated hypertension screenings at health fairs throughout Tucson. As a second year pharmacy student at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, I have acquired many skills through my education and working as pharmacy intern that can be of service to the Global Medical Brigades in Panama.

For as long as I can remember, my fervent passion has long been to help provide healthcare to the general public, especially to underserved populations abroad. I would like to continue this journey by volunteering in Panama this coming March. It would mean the world to me if you could make a tax-deductible donation. The funds will go towards necessities, such as medical and dental supplies, medications, and interpreters. Every donation made, no matter what the amount is, will take me that much closer to volunteering in Panama. Your generosity would mean the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I hope to have your support! ☺