This year, the second year trip to Nicaragua trip will be planned by Natalie Johnson and will be coordinated through Missions of Grace (MOG) and the Mauldin family of San Antonio, Texas. Cheri Mauldin and MOG have very strong ties to Nicaragua and work year round to bring medical aid to the most needy communities. We will be based at a health post in Las Salinas and make daily outreach trips to more impoverished areas. Typically, half of our time is spent as clinic days (shadowing physicians and touring hospitals) while the other half is spent sight seeing and soaking in the culture of Nicaragua. Last year, on "off days" students had the opportunity to go horseback riding, zip-lining, explore a bat cave, hike up a volcano, shop at the market, experience the nightlife of Managua, surf in San Juan del Sur, and hang out at the beach.

This year, the second year trip to Ecuador will be planned by Carrie Kubiak and will be coordinated with the local community in the coastal villages of Agua Blanca and Rio Blanca near the beach town of Puerto Lopez. Students will have the opportunity to set-up and provide local health care along villages on the coast where it is difficult for residents to visit far away Ecudorian health clinics. Student will stay in hostels, eat at local eateries, and have the opportunities to visit local beaches. There will also be days set aside at the end of the trip to go sightseeing and experience Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands.

The first year trip to Haiti will be planned by Nathan Farley and and will be coordinated with Rays of Hope for Haiti, a nonprofit organization out of Grand Rapids, MI. The group will stay at the Notre Maison Guest House in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Notre Maison is run by Gertrude Bien Amie, an amazing woman who runs two orphanages and a sewing school for Haitian women. In addition to Notre Maison, students will spend about five-six days providing healthcare at a clinic in Bon Repos, Haiti. At the end of the trip students will have the opportunity to spend a day or two at a resort/beach for relaxation.

The M1 trip to Peru will be planned by Michelle El-Hosni. Students will be working with Awamaki in hospitals and community clinics around Cusco, Peru. Students will stay as a group in a hotel or hostel and travel each day to the work site. Students will be working closely with Peruvian doctors and healthcare providers. Daily responsibilities may include: taking vitals, dictating patient histories, and basic medical examinations. Also, students will have the opportunity to provide health education materials and present to local groups. There will also be time for students to visit the many cultural attractions of Peru, such as the ancient site of Machu Picchu.

WHSO will be partnering with Global Brigades to improve their efforts in providing sustainable health care to the impoverished communitties of rural Panama. While Panama has developed cities and national health care, much of the country lags behind in their access to health care. Global Brigades attemps to send health care teams to these impoverished areas semi-annually. These health care teams are responsibile for providing the basic health care of the communities people, while at the same time utilizing an electronic medical program to ensure continuity of care. Further, a Panamanian doctor and Panamanian dentist take part in the clinic with the students. This provides a multidisiplinary approach and an interesting learning experience for the students. Last, the students will be spending the final three days of their trip on a wonderful beach in rugid Panama.