Costa Rica

Mark R. Hagen, MD
and daughter Noelle Hagen
Costa Rica 2001

Guaymi Indians in the village of Coto Brus

Noelle Hagen with Guaymi child

This summer I had the opportunity to participate in two short term mission trips, one as a precepting physician with the International Medical Mentoring Program. The program is based in Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania. It is designed to give premedical students an experience in practicing medicine in a third world country. These mission trips are the culmination of a Spring term course where the students learn about interviewing patients and some of the basics of tropical medicine.

Guaymi child with Noelle Guaymi children

We took seven students to Kenya, Africa and we then took six different students to Costa Rica. In both countries we worked in remote areas which are in great need of health services. We were able to see hundreds of patients in the short time we were there.

a young Guaymi mother a curious Guaymi father and son

I was also fortunate to be able to take my 14 year old daughter, Noelle with me to Costa Rica, where she received a crash course in prescription drugs and became our pharmacist for the two weeks there.

our pharmacist, Noelle, at work

We worked with local mission groups in each country who supplied interpreters as well as arranged for our meals and lodging. We also worked closely with the mission churches in both countries and the clinics were combined with an evangelical outreach that was quite successful.

scenery at Coto Brus

Special thanks goes out to my patients for their understanding during my absence last summer. I hope the photos will give you a better understanding of my time away. Any volunteers to be next year's pharmacist?

minor surgery during the clinic hours buying handcrafts from the village women

"The Boat Boys" "Snorkeling"

Rest and Recreation on the coast before returning to the USA

Spanish speaking parrot The team at a church in San Jose students and Noelle

friends

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