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Show Monday, Oct. 3, 2011 Page 7 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com; Pre-meds go above and abroad BY MARIAH NOBLE staff writer Americans are constantly told they "have it good," but after spending five weeks volunteering in a Honduran hospital this summer, Chance Christensen believes this statement to be true more than ever before. Christensen, a junior majoring in human movement science, said each day began by waking up early and walking five miles from his host family's home, to the regional hospital Atlantida. He said there were taxis he could have ridden in, but taking them was more dangerous than walking. "My wife and my mother were quite nervous about me going down there. Honduras is a dangerous place, and (the city of) La Ceiba is known for criminal activity," Christensen said. "I had to be led into the hospital every day by a guy with a very large gun." Christensen said he was in Honduras for a total of 10 weeks, spending half of his time working in an orphanage and the other half in the hospital. He said the experience helped him prepare for his future as a medical student. "I had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the best physicians Honduras has to offer. I was able to get hands-on experience, which I doubt many other medical students have had, with trauma and medical procedures," Christensen said. Christensen is not the only pre-med student from USU who has had handson experience at an international hospital. Brandon Martin, a senior biology major, spent nearly 270 hours volunteering at the hospital in Granada, Nicaragua, during the past two summers. "It was an incredible experience," Martin said. "It gave me a more well-rounded view of the world." Martin said he arranged both month-long trips on his own. After writing a letter requesting a job at the hospital, he had a friend in Nicaragua hand deliver it. He was invited to work in the lab, drawing blood. Although Martin said he didn't know what to expect at first, eventually the experience greatly impacted his life. "I was hoping to understand the status of health care in the developing world, but when I was there, I was impacted the most by the lack of supplies and resources," Martin said. "For instance, gloves are really limited. I'd try to use only one or two pairs per day down there, whereas here we'd switch gloves between each patient." Martin said the doctors he worked with were well educated, but their lack of access to proper equipment and supplies was what struck him the most. Christensen also saw a great lack of supplies in Honduras. "We had one patient break his femur in a motorcycle accident. He laid there for four hours before surgery without any pain medication," Christensen said. Christensen said the physician's thought process was that the man would be going into surgery soon, and he would need the medicine then, so it should be saved. "There's not an unlimited supply of medicine (in Honduras) like there is here," Christensen said. "If the hospital runs out, it takes a lot of effort to go get more." Christensen said the lack of supplies not only affected the comfort of patients, but in some cases, it affected their lives. "Even though it's the largest in the area, the hospital doesn't have any advanced surgical teams. There are no helicopters, and it takes a long time to transport people," Christensen said. "Many people who could have been saved in American hospitals died because of the lack of medicine and staff." Christensen said watching patients go through experiences like this made him care more about patient comfort. "It made me much more empathetic and under - PRE-MED STUDENT BRANDON M A R T I N takes blood from a patient at a hospital in Granada, Nicaragua. Martin has spent 270 hours during the past two summers serving as a phlebotomist. He said the expirience has helped him realized the need for medical resources in developing countries. Photo courtesy of Brandon Martin standing," Christensen said. After Martin's first experience at the Nicaraguan hospital in 2010, he decided to be more proactive and do his part to improve the situation. He collaborated with the USU Honors program to do a fundraiser so supplies could be purchased by the hospital. The Honors Program also helped Christensen pay for his trip. "One of the reasons I was able to do this was a generous grant from the Honors department," Christensen said. "Without them it would have been a lot more difficult for me to have this experience. They played a very big part in making it possible." Chistie Fox, the Honors Program director, said the TRAVEL, Page 11 Meet McConkie the graduate maker BY STEVE SCHWARTZMAN staff writer Many in the ever-moving sardine can that is the Huntsman School of Business may not notice or even see a need of Kathy McConkie's services, but if you asked an ungrad senior or graduate ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ student, they just might consider her a best friend. McConkie, the assistant director for the Huntsman MBA Office, has been aiding students in furthering education for five years and Kathy McConkie, said she prides herself most adviser. on being a guide and tool for Huntsman School of them. "The most important Business thing I do is serve students," McConkie said. "They are the reason we exist, I wouldn't have a job without them." McConkie, 55, has been employed by USU for 21 years. She worked in Distance Education, international research and agriculture before deciding to stay with the MBA office. She would never complain either, saying she has loved her work experience and the knowledge it has given her about the university. Usually she is in her office on the third floor of the Business Buikjjng just before 7:30 a.m. She likes to be in before most people clock in for the day. The day usually starts with checking and organizing her email, which according to her is no easy task. "On a normal morning I'll have about 30 emails in my inbox, but there are days where it can grow over a hundred. I am very inundated with emails," McConkie said. Amid the early mornings and email duties, McConkie especially enjoys working personally with students. She considers herself to be a "problem solver." Her emails house everything from prospective students' questions to advice for current graduate students, or issues with staff and faculty to coordinating marketing and recruiting initiatives all over the world. She does her best to take care of duties herself, but keeps a running list of things she can call upon for help from MBA Office Program Coordinator Lindi Brown, her three student office assistants or other auxiliaries on campus. "There are so many people who make my job easier," McConkie said. "We have a great team here in the office Day in thU Life KATHY MCCONKIE HAS BEEN A USU EMPLOYEE for more than 21 years. She advises undergraduate seniors and graduate students. She said working with more than 60 students and lining up international trips for MBA students keep her busy from the moment she steps into the office at 7:30 a.m. until she leaves the office at 6 p.m. STEVE SCHWARTZMAN photo and a wonderful team around campus, it makes it such a fun place to work." Checking email generally takes a few hours, but still gives her ample time to meet with as many students as she can. The office tends to get pretty busy in the late morning. Between working with 64 graduate students and anyone else who has concerns, this takes up a great amount of her time. Her appointments include anything from face to face and phone conversations, to frequent walk ins — which she said %e is a big believer in. "Even though some people frown upon it, I have an open door policy. If I'm there and there is no meeting, I want to do the best I can to talk with and help whoever comes by," McConkie said. In between meetings with students, McConkie is busy organizing graduate needs for all of the departments and majors in the Huntsman school. One of her biggest projects every year is getting everyOSeeMBA, Page 10 1 |