When Nick George first stepped off the plane at the Cibao International Airport in the Dominican Republic in 2009, he was committed to making an impact, no matter how big or small, on the local people. Little did he know, they would be the ones to make an impact on him.

George, a native of Wichita, Kan., and Arts & Sciences junior majoring in biology and Spanish with a pre-med focus, spent five months in the Dominican Republic as a student volunteer with Creighton’s Encuentro Dominicano program. He was exposed to both the medical and service aspects of the program as he worked side-by-side with volunteer medical personnel in bringing care to rural communities. He said working within the Dominican health care culture, which is rooted in the close interaction between provider and patient, was very rewarding.

George recalls one instance when he assisted a team of ear, nose and throat surgeons to remove a patient’s neck cyst. After returning to the campo, which is a village in which the students worked, George ran into the same patient, who remembered him from the hospital.

“You saw how much that had impacted his life,” George said.

George said he realized patient care involves so much more than just understanding a person’s medical background.

“I learned that there is a disconnect between patient and physician if there is no knowledge or understanding of where the patient is coming from,” George said. “I think this can potentially compromise patient care. Medicine is just as much cultural as it is scientific.”

George’s newfound perspective on medicine inspired him to improve the health care conditions in the Dominican Republic even once he returned to the United States. He said health care in the Dominican Republic does not lack commitment by the people and providers; it lacks the necessary medical supplies and integral health providers.

In response to the first problem, George organized an effort with his fellow Institute for Latin American Concern colleagues to send blood pressure kits to the country.

“After many months of hard work and dedication, Nick is sending 150 kits of blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes to the ILAC Center,” Holly Fuller, the director of the ILAC office, said. “Nick firmly believes in the ILAC mission of providing quality health care to rural Dominicans and empowering them to take ownership of their health.”

George said the project has presented its share of challenges, as charity projects are not always the first priority on everyone’s agendas.

“It was difficult dealing with corporate organizations because people just didn’t have the time for you,” George said. “Charity projects were just placed on the back-burner for most people.”

However, he did not let these setbacks phase him. Arts & Sciences junior Kayla Brimeyer, George’s close friend and fellow pre-med student who accompanied him on the Encuentro trip, said George’s perseverance is one of his strongest attributes. After knowing George formore than a year now, her respect for him has only intensified.

“He is persistent,” Brimeyer said. “In school and with activities, he will always persevere to make sure whatever it is he is working on is accomplished. Also, he will help out anyone who needs anything.”

George can have his quirkier moments as well, which is why Brimeyer said he is so likable and people enjoy working with him.

“Every group taxi ride to and from ILAC was memorable when Nick George was present,” Brimeyer said about her adventures with George while working in the Dominican Republic. “I love the boy; he’s like a brother to me.”

George has maintained his connection to Latin America in other ways, like hosting medical students from Santiago and taking an internship in Costa Rica over the summer. He said both of these experiences affirm his decision to continue to improve the conditions in the Dominican Republic. They also have allowed him to develop relationships with the people and to understand their culture.

“We speak in Spanglish,” George laughed while describing the unique language he and his Dominican roommates use. “I like that a lot because I can practice my Spanish.”

In the future, George said he would like to use his medical degree to continue to work with people in high-need areas through a non-governmental organization like Catholic Relief Services. In the immediate future, he just hopes he will have another opportunity to revisit the very place and people who have been so influential in giving him a direction in life.

“There’s about six of us longing to go back and revisit,” George said. “It was integral in forming who we are now.”