[NYTr] Nov Report from Seattle Med Student at Cuba's Latin Amer School of Medicine Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 18:03:00 -0600 (CST) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit sent by Tom Warner - Dec 6, 2007 http://www.seattlecuba.net Our Seattle Student at Cuba's Free Medical School Reports. His name is Ramon Bernal and he was born in Jalisco, Mexico and came to the US when he was a pre teen. He attended Leschi grade school and West Seattle High and a pre med course at Seattle U. He was the first in his family to graduate high school. There were no funds for medical school. This is his third report from Cuba where he gets free tuition and labs and books and room and board and even a little spending money. Internet time is expensive and the Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee helps a little for that and whatever else he may need. This is Ramom's third report. Jim McDermott went to visit him when he was in Cuba but the Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee hasn't been able to get a report on that visit yet. If you want pictures of Ramon at the Latin American School of Medicine, we will send you some as an attachment. In solidarity, Thomas W. Warner, secretary Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee - a Task Force of the Church Council of Greater Seattle Seattle, WA, 98115 http://www.seattlecuba.net Here is Ramon Bernal's latest report. ************************************* November 2007 How many times have you felt so ill that you couldn't even leave your home to go see a doctor? The reality is that many of us have been in this situation. The Cuban patients, however, need not worry about leaving their home because the doctor comes to them when they can't come to the doctor. I was fortunate enough to accompany Dr. Vilma Berro to a home-visit and thus experienced one of the advantages of the Cuban healthcare system. Medicina General Integral This month I received a three-week introductory class to Integral General Medicine (IntroducciC3n a la Medicina General Integral). Two days out of the week were spent in the classroom and the rest were spent at a clinic in Mantilla, a neighborhood of Havana. My experience was very enriching and it reinforced my desire to become a doctor. Consultorio #11 The clinic, located on the first floor of a three-story building, was a very humble place. Dr. Berro, my mentor, was a great physician. I, as well as 4 other students, spent 3 weeks at her clinic where we were taught the basics of medical hygiene, such as washing our hands (using three different methods) as well as the taking of vital signs. In that period of time, I had the opportunity to interact with the patients, a student from Uruguay in his sixth year of medical school (he was also under the supervision of Dr. Berro) as well as countless doctors specialized in different fields of medicine that came to the clinic to consult with Dr. Berro.s patients. Each physician took the time to explain each case, as well as their approach to the different modalities of treatment for each patient. The clinic also had a nurse on staff and she was very helpful. This nurse was responsible for the execution of many procedures and she always invited us to watch her as she performed these various tasks, which varied in complexity. Through my experience, I have learned this: nurses have a tremendous amount of responsibility and they are very competent and well respected. Doctor-patient relationship Dr. Berro knew most of her patients by name. She has been working at clinic #11 for many years and, hence, has seen all of her patients numerous times. Aside from knowing them by name, she knew their medical history by heart. I was really impressed. The patients, as you might imagine, love her. There is a window next to her desk (well, now there are only remains of what used to be a window) and many of her patients stop by the window to salute her as they go about town. Home-visits A couple of weeks ago while Dr. Berro was consulting a patient, a woman who claimed that her elderly father was in need of medical attention at home interrupted her. Dr. Berro, not knowing the severity of the problem, immediately left the office to go see the elderly patient. The other doctor (the 6th year medical student) and the nurse stayed at the clinic while Dr. Berro was out. As we walked to the patient.s house, which was about two blocks away from the clinic, everyone greeted Dr. Berro. Aside from seeing her as the doctor, people see her as a friend and as an important member of the community since she lives in one of the apartments above the clinic. Upon arrival at the patient's house, we found the patient surrounded by his family members. He had fallen earlier that morning; hence, they did not want him to move. The arrival of Dr. Berro totally changed the atmosphere of that house. The members of that house were now able to smile, knowing that their doctor was there to help their loved one. After tending to the patient, Dr. Berro recommended that he visit the hospital for further evaluation, testing and supervision. She gave him some medications and asked that the family members prepare for him, a meal, before taking him to the hospital. Overall, I found this brief experience to be quite inspiring and it has definitely strengthened my desire to become a compassionate and caring physician. Ramon Bernal * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================