Student Doctor Trinity Smartt spent a week in 2025 in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras, on an international medical mission that became a formative milestone in her journey to becoming a physician. This trip took place at the end of her first year at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Louisiana, and it marked her first time traveling abroad. Throughout the trip, she helped deliver primary care through mobile clinics set up in local churches and schools. Working under close physician supervision, she assisted with triage, collected vitals, took patient histories, and performed basic physical exams. The medical team also distributed much‑needed medications, provided health education, and supported patients through counseling.

As a first‑generation college student and future physician, Smartt emphasized how crucial the AOF International Medical Outreach Travel Grant was in making the experience possible. The grant eased the financial burden and allowed her to fully participate.

Mission UpReach, the hosting organization, coordinated four clinic days—one at a church in the main city and three in small mountain villages. Smartt was paired with an emergency medicine physician, giving her the opportunity to see firsthand what it meant to function as a true member of a care team. “When one of us missed a step, the other stepped in,” she said. “By the end of the first day, asking focused questions and performing exams felt more natural.”

Each day pushed her to recall her entire first year of medical training. When much-needed medications arrived, she helped organize them and prepare for distribution. She also steadily improved her Spanish, learning that effort and genuine connection mattered far more than perfection. One patient encounter particularly stayed with her: a mother and her two children seeking routine care. The children presented with coughs consistent with rhinitis, and Smartt provided Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, including facial effleurage, the Galbreath technique, and auricular drainage. For the mother’s vision concerns, Smartt used a Snellen chart. Although reading glasses wasn’t the perfect solution, the team let the mother try a pair of glasses, “a reminder,” she noted, “that sometimes you simply do the best you can with what you have.”

Reflecting on the experience, Smartt shared, “This trip strengthened my desire to pursue family medicine and serve communities with limited access to care. It deepened my commitment to whole‑person, patient‑centered medicine. I listened to many hearts that week—and if you could hear mine, it would say, ‘Estoy muy agradecida.’ I am very grateful.”

Read more from the AOF 2025 Annual Report.