In the quiet morning hours in Verón, a town in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic, Sydney Boudreaux, VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2026, was already setting up for clinic. The air was heavy with heat, and a line of patients had begun to form outside the VCOM Verón Rural Clinic. Many had walked long distances, some for hours, just for a chance to be seen by a doctor.
At the Centro de Atención Pediátrica Oscar de la Renta, a clinic offering pediatric services from preventive medicine to dentistry and emergency care, Sydney gently held the hand of a young boy receiving his vaccinations. Although they did not share a language, her calm presence and kind touch helped ease his fear, making the moment a little less overwhelming.
Sydney was there as part of her international rotation through VCOM-Louisiana. For several weeks, she worked in clinics across rural parts of the Dominican Republic, including Verón and Punta Cana. Each day brought unfamiliar challenges, but also a sense of purpose that reaffirmed her commitment to medicine.
VCOM international outreach offers a comprehensive program to address the healthcare needs of communities in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. There are two year-round international clinics where students and residents can attend a rotation that lasts between two and four weeks. Additionally, students can participate in a one-week mission trip during their second year. Medical students have the opportunity to provide public health, community health, and primary care services to the communities surrounding these clinics. The international outreach programs, which include follow-up care in year-round international clinics, provide a comprehensive approach to improving global health. As a leader in global health outreach, VCOM reaches thousands of patients in need annually, provides immunizations for children where access was nonexistent or inadequate, and has developed prenatal care where it was previously unavailable.
The clinics where she worked didn’t have access to some advanced technology. Without the option to order imaging or run labs on the spot, she learned to lean on her physical exam skills and clinical reasoning. It was a shift from what she was used to, but one that taught her something valuable. “Great care doesn’t always mean having the best machines,” she said. “Sometimes it’s about being creative and using what you have wisely. Empathy and resourcefulness go a long way.”
Sydney and her peers, under licensed supervision, treated patients with a wide range of needs, from children with infections to older adults with unmanaged chronic conditions. Many were experiencing health care for the first time in a long while, and their gratitude left a lasting impression. “You could feel how much it meant to people,” she said. “It reminded me why VCOM puts so much emphasis on working in rural and underserved areas. We weren’t just learning. We were helping.”
Through international outreach, students develop cultural sensitivity and skills to address significant health challenges that span borders and continents, working with VCOM faculty and local physicians in these regions. Cultural understanding played a major role in her day-to-day work. Each community she served had different customs, beliefs, and expectations regarding healthcare. Sydney found that being respectful and open made all the difference. “You’re in someone else’s space. It’s important to listen and try to understand what matters most to them,” she said. “That’s how you build trust. That’s how you give better care.”
Some moments stand out more than others. Sydney remembered one patient in particular who was quiet and hesitant at the beginning of the visit. “She didn’t say much, and I could tell she was nervous,” Sydney recalled. “But by the end, she reached out and held my hand. I didn’t need a translator to know that she felt safe. That moment will stay with me.”
For students considering an international rotation, Sydney encourages them to take the leap. Her advice is simple: go with the mindset of serving others, not just learning for yourself. “Be ready to adapt. Be flexible. You’ll face challenges, but you’ll also grow in ways you don’t expect. And if you stay open and respectful, you’ll make a real difference.”
As Sydney wrapped up her time in the Dominican Republic, she returned with much more than clinical knowledge. She carried home a deeper understanding of the people she served and a renewed commitment to VCOM’s mission of care, compassion, and service. It is the kind of lesson that cannot be taught in a classroom; it can only be experienced face-to-face.
For more information on VCOM's international outreach program, visit https://www.vcom.edu/academics/outreach/international
