September 2008

Life West sponsors outreach program to El Salvador

Recently, 16 doctors and 27 chiropractic interns from Life Chiropractic College West spent five days providing free chiropractic care to the people of El Salvador in the college's "El Salvador Outreach Program." Life West has been participating in these missions regularly since February 2005, under the guidance of Dr. Shawn Dill, director of Life West's Institute for Advanced Care in Chiropractic.

The doctors and interns were able to see approximately 25,000 patients at 14 different temporary clinics that were set up throughout El Salvador from June 16 through June 20. The majority of the clinics were in San Salvador at locations such as city hall, the ministry of economy, and the legislative building. There was also a clinic set-up in San Miguel for those who wanted to receive chiropractic care but were unable to travel to San Salvador.

Each site had one doctor and two interns, with the sites specializing in upper cervical or full-spine care, depending on the doctors' and interns' choice of technique. Translators were present at each of the sites to get information on each patient's history. An intern then would perform an analysis, the adjustment, and then post-analysis. Patients were asked to return later in the week for additional care, and to bring any additional family members. Many children were also seen throughout the five days.

Dr. Lauren Clum, a Life West alumna who was present for this trip and had been on the El Salvador mission previously as an intern, has always found great pleasure in helping the people of El Salvador. "Generally people didn't understand what we were doing, but knew we were helping people and wanted to be a part of it," she said. "It was cool because they were so thankful and would say to us 'From God to you.'"

Life Chiropractic College West interns who go on the missions have to meet certain requirements. They must have passed their clinic entrance exam, which makes them eligible to see patients in the health center. In addition, they need to have a 3.0 GPA or better, along with the approval from the dean of the college and the dean of the health center.

The mission trip was arranged and approved through official El Salvador government and health care channels.