David S Nageh, DO: Hudson Regional Health- Christ Hospital, Family Medicine– PGY-3

Dominican Republic: April 2026

 During my mission trip to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, I had the opportunity to participate in a primary care medical outreach program serving underserved communities. Our medical team consisted of two Family Medicine residents, one Internal Medicine/Hematology-Oncology physician, and one Pediatrician. Over the course of the mission, we provided care to approximately 500 patients.

  Each day, we traveled to different locations throughout the region, including churches, abandoned homes, and private residences for house visits. These varied settings allowed us to reach patients who often have limited access to healthcare services. Despite the challenges of working in nontraditional clinical environments, our team was able to provide comprehensive primary care and address a wide range of medical concerns.

  A significant focus of the mission was preventive medicine and patient education. We spent time counseling patients on healthy lifestyle habits, disease prevention, medication adherence, and management of chronic conditions. Preventive screening examinations were also performed, including vision screenings, breast exams, and other assessments aimed at identifying health concerns before they became more serious.

  To support patient treatment, we operated a mobile pharmacy stocked with essential medications. Providers utilized a formulary developed specifically for the mission to ensure prescriptions aligned with the medications available on site. This allowed patients to receive both medical evaluation and treatment during the same visit.

  This experience was both professionally rewarding and personally meaningful. It reinforced the importance of preventive care, patient education, and compassionate service while highlighting the impact that accessible healthcare can have on underserved communities.