Alumni, faculty participate in medical mission trip

From left, Bob Chagrasulis, M.D., ’81; Desiree Soter-Pearsall, M.D.; Alan Shain, M.D.; Grace Lagasse, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine; Kyran Dowling, M.D., ’81; Pat Nolan, M.D., ’81; and Cindy Richendollar, Rotary Club member, were volunteers on a recent medical mission in the Dominican Republic.

For the past several years, alumni of the Whiddon College of Medicine and faculty from the Department of Emergency Medicine have traveled to the Dominican Republic to provide medical care to underserved populations. 

Now, faculty hope to use the medical mission trip as an opportunity to further develop global health experiences for residents and medical students. 

Pat Nolan, M.D., ’81, examines a patient in the clinic.

Bob Chagrasulis, M.D., a member of the Class of 1981, has led medical mission teams in the Caribbean country for 30 years in partnership with Rotary International and through established relationships with clinics, hospitals and local charitable organizations in the Dominican Republic. 

The mobile outreach clinics provide basic medical care to two primary populations: sugar cane cutters and their families who live in the sugar cane villages called bateys, and people in the city jails and government prisons. During the weeklong trip, volunteer physicians see 1,000 to 2,000 patients. They treat childhood illnesses related to water and sanitation issues, nutritional deficiencies, and acute and chronic adult diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.  

Over the years, the team has included emergency medicine faculty and alumni from the Whiddon College of Medicine. Edward Panacek, M.D., professor and chair of emergency medicine and a 1981 graduate of the Whiddon College of Medicine, facilitated the connection between the faculty members and his medical school classmate, Chagrasulis. 

Grace Lagasse, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine, was among the physician volunteers in February and again in November. 

“For me, these trips have been an incredible experience,” she said. “I have learned much about Dominican and Haitian culture and felt very fortunate to be able to provide both acute and primary care services to populations that do not regularly have access to physicians.” 

Lagasse has a special interest in global health initiatives. Prior to joining the faculty in 2020, she completed a global health fellowship in emergency medicine through the University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine. 

She said, “I think these trips are an invaluable opportunity, and I am looking forward to being able to expand this opportunity to residents and medical students who are interested in having this type of medical experience.”

In addition to Chagrasulis, Class of 1981 alumni volunteers included Kyran Dowling, M.D., and Pat Nolan, M.D. Community physicians included Desiree Soter-Pearsall, M.D., and Alan Shain, M.D.

Grace Lagasse, M.D., second from left, works in the pharmacy area with Cindy Richendollar and the Dominican nurse and physician who assist the team of volunteers.