Several members of Northeast Texas Community College traveled to Guatemala to provide medical care through a long-running mission near San Raymundo. The team included Dr. Gerald Stagg, recently appointed to the NTCC Board of Trustees; Kelly Fowler, associate professor of nursing; nursing student Kamryn Twilley; Dr. Nancy Wilson, director of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program; and social work student Jessica Plancarte.
The mission is based at Hospital Cristiano del Llano, about 20 miles from Guatemala City. First Baptist Church of Texarkana started the ministry more than 30 years ago, and First Baptist Church Mount Pleasant joined in 2007. In four and a half days of clinic work, volunteers helped with nearly 80 surgeries, along with pharmacy, triage, post-operative care and children's ministry.
Fowler said the days were long but worthwhile, and that sharing the trip with a nursing student showed learning beyond the classroom. Wilson, who has gone for several years, said many patients cannot get the therapy they need to keep working and providing for their families. The college said the trip gave students real-world learning.