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Hello all! For those that do not know me, my name is Mike Vaughn and I am a third-year physical therapy doctorate student at the University of Maryland-Baltimore. I have recently joined a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team (mainly physical therapists) through the non-profit organization STAND: The Haiti Project to spend two weeks in northwest Haiti treating nearly 1,400-1,500, often times desperate, patients. This is an area of Haiti where people live off of $1-2/day and access to healthcare is nonexistent for the vast majority of people. This is an incomparable opportunity for personal and professional growth, but I will not be able to do this without your help! I am attempting to raise $2,000 to be able to cover my program fees as well as supply the organization with much needed medical equipment. In addition, if you have any medical equipment that you would be willing to donate, I can take that to the clinic in Haiti as well (please ask for a list, if needed).
Why I chose to get in involved:
Though many people know that I am passionate about chocolate labs, Wegmans, soccer, and funny stuffs, fewer know that I am also passionate about physical therapy, travel, history, and affecting change for people living in poverty. In the past, I had the chance to tutor students from the townships, or shantytowns, of South Africa and am currently volunteering with a group called Back on My Feet to help residents of Baltimore’s homeless shelters gain access to education, housing, and employment through their consistent commitment to a running program. Looking to the future, I will serve as a Maryland Ambassador to Global PT Day of Service (Oct. 15), organizing student volunteering in a number of local groups, and of course, going to Haiti if I am able to meet my fundraising goals. Don’t get me wrong - I know what I have done in the past are small changes for people in need, but small changes are still better than no changes at all. I hope my experience with STAND can help to make similar local and global humanitarian endeavors a consistent part of my professional career and connect me with like-minded clinicians.
My motivation to really get involved with humanitarian international work originated when I was an undergraduate enrolled in, coincidentally, a History of Haiti course. I was introduced to Paul Farmer, a personal hero of mine – second only to Nelson Mandela – who is a Harvard-trained Physician, PhD Anthropologist, and author that started an organization very similar to STAND called Partners in Health . What differentiates organizations like STAND and Partners in Health from other NGO’s and other non-profits is there central focus to make efforts to develop a sustainable, local health workforce as opposed to just staying for a week or two and leaving.
Why I picked STAND: The Haiti Project?
The mission of STAND, or Sustainable Therapy And New Development, is to “establish permanent access to orthopedic rehabilitative services in the country of Haiti through direct patient care and clinical training of its citizens.” The founders of the organization are highly selective when picking applicants and make sure to diversify the specialties of clinicians – orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, and wound care specialists – because they have to. Extensively-trained and experienced clinicians are required to be able to manage a huge group of patients (~1,500) with often very extreme, atypical conditions, and need to be quick, effective, and highly creative. It is not uncommon for patients to walk for multiple days and wait in line for 12+ hours to be seen by a therapist at the clinic. Secondly, they are currently developing an orthopedic curriculum (through Youngstown State Univ.) to train Haitian citizens enrolled in a local nursing program to be able to provide these highly demanded rehabilitative services year-round. It has such a huge potential to impact long-term disability for many people in Haiti.
If I have communicated my passion for this project effectively and/or the vision of STAND: The Haiti Project speaks to your values, please help me make this happen by donating to my cause. You can donate through this page by clicking the "Donate Now" button or can send me a check, whichever is easiest for you. Please spread this message to friends and family!
For more information about the experience (highly recommend a listen!):
-Podcast: Interview with the founders of STAND
-Podcast: Interview about PT volunteer experience w/ STAND
THANK YOU!!!
Sincerely,
Mike Vaughn
Student Physical Therapist at the University of Maryland-Baltimore, Class of 2017
Why I chose to get in involved:
Though many people know that I am passionate about chocolate labs, Wegmans, soccer, and funny stuffs, fewer know that I am also passionate about physical therapy, travel, history, and affecting change for people living in poverty. In the past, I had the chance to tutor students from the townships, or shantytowns, of South Africa and am currently volunteering with a group called Back on My Feet to help residents of Baltimore’s homeless shelters gain access to education, housing, and employment through their consistent commitment to a running program. Looking to the future, I will serve as a Maryland Ambassador to Global PT Day of Service (Oct. 15), organizing student volunteering in a number of local groups, and of course, going to Haiti if I am able to meet my fundraising goals. Don’t get me wrong - I know what I have done in the past are small changes for people in need, but small changes are still better than no changes at all. I hope my experience with STAND can help to make similar local and global humanitarian endeavors a consistent part of my professional career and connect me with like-minded clinicians.
My motivation to really get involved with humanitarian international work originated when I was an undergraduate enrolled in, coincidentally, a History of Haiti course. I was introduced to Paul Farmer, a personal hero of mine – second only to Nelson Mandela – who is a Harvard-trained Physician, PhD Anthropologist, and author that started an organization very similar to STAND called Partners in Health . What differentiates organizations like STAND and Partners in Health from other NGO’s and other non-profits is there central focus to make efforts to develop a sustainable, local health workforce as opposed to just staying for a week or two and leaving.
Why I picked STAND: The Haiti Project?
The mission of STAND, or Sustainable Therapy And New Development, is to “establish permanent access to orthopedic rehabilitative services in the country of Haiti through direct patient care and clinical training of its citizens.” The founders of the organization are highly selective when picking applicants and make sure to diversify the specialties of clinicians – orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, and wound care specialists – because they have to. Extensively-trained and experienced clinicians are required to be able to manage a huge group of patients (~1,500) with often very extreme, atypical conditions, and need to be quick, effective, and highly creative. It is not uncommon for patients to walk for multiple days and wait in line for 12+ hours to be seen by a therapist at the clinic. Secondly, they are currently developing an orthopedic curriculum (through Youngstown State Univ.) to train Haitian citizens enrolled in a local nursing program to be able to provide these highly demanded rehabilitative services year-round. It has such a huge potential to impact long-term disability for many people in Haiti.
If I have communicated my passion for this project effectively and/or the vision of STAND: The Haiti Project speaks to your values, please help me make this happen by donating to my cause. You can donate through this page by clicking the "Donate Now" button or can send me a check, whichever is easiest for you. Please spread this message to friends and family!
For more information about the experience (highly recommend a listen!):-Podcast: Interview with the founders of STAND
-Podcast: Interview about PT volunteer experience w/ STAND
THANK YOU!!!
Sincerely,
Mike Vaughn
Student Physical Therapist at the University of Maryland-Baltimore, Class of 2017