This fall, some Wichita State students will be comparing their health care system to one in a developing country.

The College of Health Professions recently partnered with a network of medical professionals to perform volunteer work in Pierre Payan, Haiti, as part of the “Help for Haiti” program. The November trip is open to WSU health profession students and faculty members.

Dr. Joseph Miller, owner of Plum Creek Medical Group in Lexington, Neb., is one of the project leaders.

“The scope of the program started out as a medical/surgical multi-disciplinary team going down to work at this facility,” Miller said.

It is an opportunity for students to see how health care is performed in a third world country, he said. Though Help for Haiti currently works mostly with health professions students, there is consideration about opening the program up to other academic areas, such as engineering.

Emma Groover, a student in the medical lab science program, is considering going in April.

“I’m really excited to work with all of the different professions. Here at WSU, we’re on our own. Seeing how all of the other professions work, and having us work together will be really interesting,” Groover said.

Kristyn Jones is also a student in the medical lab science program and will be participating in the November trip.

“I think it’s really going to make me become more humble and realize how much more I have,” Jones said.

Help for Haiti offers invaluable experience for students planning to work in the health professions.

“I’ll get a new understanding of how tests work. If I were working in a lab and a machine goes down, but I have a patient that I need to have a test run on, I’ll be able to do a very basic test,” Jones said.

In addition to medical experience, Groover is also already anticipating a new perspective on life.

“Having the international experience really just makes you appreciate what you have and what the world is like,” Groover said, “so you’re not in this little box.”

This fall, some Wichita State students will be comparing their health care system to one in a developing country.

The College of Health Professions recently partnered with a network of medical professionals to perform volunteer work in Pierre Payan, Haiti, as part of the “Help for Haiti” program. The November trip is open to WSU health profession students and faculty members.

Dr. Joseph Miller, owner of Plum Creek Medical Group in Lexington, Neb., is one of the project leaders.

“The scope of the program started out as a medical/surgical multi-disciplinary team going down to work at this facility,” Miller said.

It is an opportunity for students to see how health care is performed in a third world country, he said. Though Help for Haiti currently works mostly with health professions students, there is consideration about opening the program up to other academic areas, such as engineering.

Emma Groover, a student in the medical lab science program, is considering going in April.

“I’m really excited to work with all of the different professions. Here at WSU, we’re on our own. Seeing how all of the other professions work, and having us work together will be really interesting,” Groover said.

Kristyn Jones is also a student in the medical lab science program and will be participating in the November trip.

“I think it’s really going to make me become more humble and realize how much more I have,” Jones said.

Help for Haiti offers invaluable experience for students planning to work in the health professions.

“I’ll get a new understanding of how tests work. If I were working in a lab and a machine goes down, but I have a patient that I need to have a test run on, I’ll be able to do a very basic test,” Jones said.

In addition to medical experience, Groover is also already anticipating a new perspective on life.

“Having the international experience really just makes you appreciate what you have and what the world is like,” Groover said, “so you’re not in this little box.”