In the Dominican Republic village of Progresso Dos there is no running water. The streets, unpaved, are lined with small houses cobbled together with sheet metal and wood.
Residents make their living from nearby sugar farms and other local agriculture.
The nearest medical care, in the town of San Pedro de Macoris, is a 5 mile walk or ride by motorbike. It's a trip the villagers, who lack automotive transportation, don't often make, because of exorbitant waiting times and the expense. Several months ago, Matt Cole, a sophomore biology major at Daemen and an aspiring physician assistant, invited other Daemen PA students to accompany him to the Dominican Republic for spring break this year. Daemen College Physician Assistant Program Director Paul Jacques, a practicing PA and clinician, immediately saw an opportunity for his students to make a real difference in the lives of the residents of Progresso Dos. One of the key objectives of our program is to educate physician assistants who will provide health care in rural communities, regions that are underserved and lack ready access to first-rate health care.