Physician Assistants for Global Health

I have been a Physician Assistant for 8 years now.  I have been on multiple medical missions to Haiti, Peru, and Guatemala.  And I spent a year working in the United Kingdom as a Physician Assistant in 2005-2006.  I am interested in finding more opportunities to work abroad as a Physician Assistant, particularly in developing countries.  Presently I am working as a locums in rural Alaska.

• I have been a PA since 1988, went back for my MSPAS later (since no such degree existed then).
• Lived in Haiti (during JC Duvalier years), married there and have an "Am-Haitian" 33y.o daughter, who now resides in Paris France (not medically trained at that point in my life--just in love)   
• Have had two other children, 20 and 17 yo (of no Haitian descent) here in Memphis
• Speak Kreyol--however, haltingly...the longer the visit the better it gets
• Travel to PAP (Haiti) twice annually to work (basic Internal Med/wound care/gyn/emergency med.I have even been called on to treat dogs and donkeys)
  
• Would like to make more,  longer trips with lasting impact
• Am dedicated to helping Haiti "become" ...  be active in the reconstruction and recovery of the country
• Interested in networking with other PAs (I go there on my own, make contacts through word of mouth, do my thing) and perhaps creating a grassroots group that can envision a holistic and humanitarian Haiti. 
• The group will work with Haitian groups and individuals to develop a working plan to aid in the recovery and reconstruction (medical issues, housing, nutrition,etc)

   

• The goal is to help Haiti help itself, to aid the majority  to become self-sufficient, have access to clean food and water, access to education and basic health care, and reasonable shelter --a place to call home.
• ANYONE UP FOR IT?? 

I hope to get to the conference and find some like-minded PAs....

 Interested in coming together with other PAs to create a formal, working agenda to aid in the long-term recovery/reconstruction of Haiti

I am currently a medical assistant and I am planning to apply to Emory University to get a dual masters in Physician Assisting and Public Health with an emphasis on global health. I love medicine and I think PA's are a real important part of the medical community, and that is why I am looking forward to becoming one.

I just returned from working for two years in China. I'm applying to PA school this fall. I'm fluent in Spanish and hope to work in Latin America after I graduate.