In temporary clinics set up far from traditional health care settings, students from Lincoln Memorial University–DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) delivered care, compassion and human connection during the International Medicine Club’s spring service trip to Puerto Plata.
For the LMU-DCOM students who participated, the week was not defined by the limits of medicine, but by the meaning of service.
"It reminded me that medicine at its core is about listening, observing, and doing the best you can with what you have."
- Tiffany Iheanacho, OMS-II
“I’ve always been committed to working in under-resourced communities, both professionally and personally,” said Tiffany Iheanacho, an OMS‑II student and member of the International Medicine Club. “This trip provided me with an opportunity to expand my commitment to the under-resourced beyond the U.S. and deepen my understanding to health disparities from a global perspective.”
Working in pop-up clinics within refugee and migrant communities, students relied less on technology and more on observation, communication and adaptability. The experience challenged assumptions about what medical care looks like and reaffirmed why many chose medicine in the first place.
“Instead of diagnostic tools, imaging, and specialist referrals, we had to lean on clinical skills, resourcefulness, and adaptability. It reminded me that medicine at its core is about listening, observing, and doing the best you can with what you have,” Iheanacho said.
Patient interactions left lasting impressions. For Iheanacho, one moment embodied both the hardship and resilience present in the community.
“One of the most impactful moments was a young girl who came to the clinic by herself with a three-month history of cough,” she said. “It highlighted both the independence of children in this community and the deep resilience that exists within it.”
For Tyler Beemon, OMS‑I, a quiet interaction during triage revealed a deeper reality of daily life.
“He admitted that his stomach did not actually hurt. He was hungry,” Beemon said. “There was something so innocent in the way he sat in my chair and pretended to be sick, but his need was real.”
That realization resonated long after the clinic closed for the day.
“We could offer help for now, but once the medications ran out and the clinic packed up, there would still be children without food, and families without reliable access to clean water,” Beemon said. “That realization stayed with me. It was heavy on my heart, but it also gave me clarity.”
Students witnessed how structural barriers, including limited access to clean water, sanitation, medications and transportation, shape health outcomes long before patients ever see a provider.
“The most eye-opening aspect was seeing how structural barriers and historical marginalizations of communities create conditions in which people have limited access to sanitation, medications, and transportation, thus directly impacting health outcomes,” Iheanacho said.
Despite these challenges, students consistently pointed to the strength of community as a source of hope.
“While the community faces significant material hardship, it is rich in faith, connection, and resilience,” Beemon said. “That spirit is something you can feel, and it is what I carried home with me.”
Shania Leiba, OMS‑I, grew up on a Caribbean island. She felt a personal connection to the experience and a responsibility to give back.
“Being from a Caribbean island myself and understanding how limited resources can be, I felt a strong desire to give back to communities outside the U.S.,” Leiba said.
Some moments were difficult, particularly when care options were limited.
“One patient who stood out to me had a tumor in her nose,” Leiba said. “Unfortunately, due to limited resources at the clinic, there was very little we could do for her. This experience stayed with me because it was difficult knowing we came to help yet were unable to fully do so.”
Those moments reinforced students’ commitment to global and underserved care rather than discouraging it.
“This experience reinforced my desire to give back and continue participating in global health initiatives,” Leiba said.
The trip exemplified LMU-DCOM’s mission to train physicians who lead with service, compassion and an understanding of the communities they serve, whether in rural Appalachia or global settings.
“This experience reflected LMU-DCOM’s mission by putting service at the center of our work, reinforcing that the cornerstone of meaningful existence is service to humanity,” Iheanacho said. “In Puerto Plata, we were called to show up, adapt, and care for patients regardless of resources or setting.”
When asked to sum up the experience, Iheanacho chose a single word.
“Honored,” she said. “Because I had both the privilege and the means to serve.”
For LMU-DCOM students, the Puerto Plata trip was not just an international experience. It was a reaffirmation of purpose and a reminder that medicine, at its core, is about meeting people where they are and choosing to serve wherever the need exists.
About LMU-DCOM
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, at LMU-Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee, and at LMU Orange Park in Orange Park, Florida. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often-underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7082, email dcom@LMUnet.edu, or visit us online at http://med.LMUnet.edu.
