What Makes the Multi-Specialty Mission Trip So Special
Written by Catherine Flanagan
Our multi-specialty mission trip (MSMT) differs from our other trips to Bolivia because while there are surgeries, they are not the sole focus of the mission. Instead, the MSMT is an opportunity to respond to some of the other needs of our host hospital. On this trip, we have two practitioners in dermatology, a cardiologist, a family medicine doctor, a gynecologic surgery team, and two IT specialists. These are all areas in which the Hospital Materno Infantil San Juan de Dios of Cliza specifically requested our assistance. As Patricia Vargas, Executive Director of Puente de Solidaridad, explains, “It is not what we want, but what they want.”
Dr. Jay Herrmann was part of our first mission trip to Cliza in 2019 and treated more than 250 patients. But he was unavailable to join our team in 2022, and we were unable to recruit another dermatologist. This was a disappointment to the Cliza community. Dermatology is a specialty the hospital doesn’t have. Patricia explains, “There aren’t many dermatologists here in Bolivia and the ones we do have aren’t in the rural areas. So people from these towns have to travel to the city to get specialty care or make do with the care of their general physician.” As our team departed at the end of last year’s mission trip, we asked the hospital director, Dr. José Ortega, what they needed from us on our next visit. He requested that we bring two dermatologists.
We returned this year with two dermatological practitioners, Dr. Herrmann, on his 20th mission for Solidarity Bridge, and four-time SB missioner Missy Koopmann, P.A. This dynamic duo has allowed us to expand our dermatology services this year, and the community response has been overwhelming. Each day, dozens of patients with a variety of concerns are seen. Many issues are seemingly minor, such as acne, sun damage, skin tags, and eczema. Others are more serious, including potential cancers, psoriasis, and burns. But all of them are important to the patients. They are important to our caregivers, too.
(l-r) Interpreter Dr. Nicole Sanchez, PA Missy Koopmann, Dr. Jay Herrmann
Local nursing student Deybi Crespo assisted Dr. Herrmann while he treated Tomasa.
Four-time missioner Missy Koopmann and 20-time missioner Jay Herrmann visit the Cristo statue in Cochabamba.
One of the patients with a serious issue is Tomasa, an 86-year-old Quechua woman with a likely basal cell cancer on her nose. Ideally, she would have the lesion biopsied and pathology done in Cochabamba. But for Tomasa and her husband, who would have to hand deliver the specimen to Cochabamba and return to pick up the results, this is not feasible. It is too far; too difficult; too expensive. She would like Dr. Herrmann to remove the growth.
Dr. Herrmann wants to make sure the patient understands the diagnosis and her options, but he speaks English, his interpreter Dr. Nicole Sánchez speaks Spanish, and the patient speaks Quechua. Communicating clearly with the patient is a necessity, so Dr. Ortega, the director of the hospital who is bilingual in Spanish and Quechua, steps in. Dr. Herrmann explains the diagnosis and proposes a removal procedure in English. Dr. Sánchez translates these into Spanish for Dr. Ortega. Dr. Ortega leans in close to Tomasa and speaks to her in Quechua, explaining her options and how Dr. Herrmann could remove the growth. Tomasa nods her head and speaks softly to Dr. Ortega. The process reverses, Quechua to Spanish, Spanish to English. Tomasa wants the procedure. Now. Using supplies that he transported to Bolivia, Dr. Herrmann removes the cancer. He reassures Tomasa that this will not affect her lifespan, and she and her husband leave in gratitude and relief.
Another elderly woman arrives at the clinic with an issue that might be considered cosmetic, but to her is one of profound importance. Magdalena waits all morning to be seen. When her turn finally arrives, her distress is palpable. Dr. Herrmann asks her what her concern is, and she shows him. She has scores of skin tags, mostly on her neck, but some on her eyelids. As he regretfully tells her that it would be impractical to remove them all, tears well up in Magdalena’s eyes. The skin tags are terribly upsetting to her. Dr. Herrmann assures her that he will remove the ones from her eyelids and some of the larger ones on her neck. He gathers his supplies and sets to work. By the time he finishes, he has removed dozens of skin tags, including those on her eyelids. Magdalena couldn’t be more thrilled! She hugs Dr. Herrmann and Dr. Sánchez, absolutely beaming. She feels beautiful!
Magdalena with dermatologist Dr. Jay Herrmann and Bolivian volunteer interpreter Dr. Nicole Sánchez.
Reflecting on Magdalena’s case, Dr. Herrmann says, “We deal with things that are relatively benign, but they are bothering the patient on a psycho-social level. They don’t like the way they look and nobody wants that, either here or in the States. It could be considered cosmetic, but it also impacts their self confidence and the way they present themselves and interact in their community. Everyone deserves to feel good about themselves.”
What keeps bringing Dr. Herrmann back is the joy of practicing medicine and the knowledge that he is helping people. “These patients don’t have access to dermatology. Skin disease has a lot of impact on people’s psychological well-being, on their self-esteem. Everyone wants to feel and look as good as they can no matter what their socio-economic status.”
In the clinic room next to Dr. Herrmann, P.A. Missy Koopmann sees many of the same types of cases. She shares Dr. Herrmann’s sense of mission. “I feel I have a calling to care for patients. It’s wonderful to spend a week in Bolivia and care for brothers and sisters who have less access to this important care.”
Missy recalls a young patient with serious acne. It caused her so much shame, she didn’t want to go to school. To Missy and Dr. Herrmann, patients like this are just as important as those with cancers or serious fungal infections. Non-life threatening skin issues like psoriasis, melasma, eczema, and acne “are difficult conditions for patients to deal with in their day-to-day lives,” Missy explains. “It’s not life or death, but it does change the way people feel about themselves.”
Changing lives is what Solidarity Bridge is all about, and MSMT is a unique and special way for us to do just that. We are grateful to Jay Herrmann and Missy Koopmann and all our missioners for their commitment to our life-changing work and to the people of Bolivia.
Stay tuned for our next blog, in which we will explore some of the other specialties that make MSMT special.