A Waves of Health team returned to Dajabon on November 4 , 2019.  Over 1000 patients were evaluated and treated during the week long medical mission.   In addition to receiving primary medical and pharmacy care, the patients received vitamins, reading glasses and other over the counter items.  The electronic registration system worked flawlessly. This system will help serve the patients better and provide valuable logistic information for further missions.  Clinical research continued in order to better assess the needs of the patients. Waves of Health clinicians started to use the Butterfly IQ ultrasound probe to better diagnose the patients.  As always the Metz family was instrumental in the efficient success of the mission.

On April 6, 2019 Two teams returned to Dajabon and Restauración, Dominican Republic to provide primary medical and pharmacy care to underserved communities. The teams evaluated and treated over 1800 patients. In addition to providing the care and medications, several hundred pairs of reading glasses were dispensed, the Lice control initiative was continued, needs assessment research was expanded, and the electronic record system was further refined. As always, The Metz family, Dr. Rowarbis Gil, Dr. Carlos Escoto-Jiminez and other local friends were instrumental in the success of the mission. Thank you to all of the supporters who made the mission possible.

On November 3, 2018 a Waves of Health team returned to Dajabon for the 20th time.    The team evaluated and treated over 1200 patients.  All children under 5 received Vitamin A supplementation.  All women of child-bearing age received prenatal vitamins. Reading glasses were dispensed to patients over 40 years of age.  Lice prevention and treatment information was disseminated and several hundred lice treatment kits were dispensed. STD prevention information and condoms were distributed. The electronic Mission Information System was further refined. The Diabetic study was continued. Over 100 "exit" surveys were done.500 pairs of Flip/Flops were distributed. Schools supplies were given to school children.  As always, Tomas Metz and his family and friends provided family hospitality and managed the logistics of the mission.  Dr. Carlos Jimenez Escoto once again worked with the Waves Team to provide local medical support and expertise.   A special thank you to Dominican Senator Olgo Fernandez for his local support.   Finally, thank you to all of the Waves of Health donors and supporters. 

Waves of Health completed the 19th medical mission to the Dominican Republic on April 20, 2018.  A team arrived in Dajabon on April 14, 2018 and began seeing patients at the Salineros Clinic in Barrio Sur.  As on previous missions to Dajabon, patients were entered into the electronic record system, evaluated by a doctor and then were given a supply of needed medicines at the Waves of  Health mobile pharmacy. On Monday, April 16 an advance team traveled two hours south to the town of Restauracion to see patients. On Wednesday April 18, the Dajabon team completed their operations in Dajabon and joined the Restauracion team.  A total of 1850 patients were seen and evaluated. In addition to medications, vitamins were given to all children and women of childbearing age. Patients over 40 were screened for near-vision and given reading glasses if needed. Family planning/STI brochures and condoms were also distributed to all adults who requested them.  Assisting the Waves of Health volunteers were Tomas, Rosie, Raiza and Francisco Metz, and their friends. Local Drs. Escoto and Gill worked with Waves of Health throughout the week. Their continued support and work make the missions successful.

Fall 2017 Mission info to come soon. 

Spring 2017 Mission Info to come soon.

During the Fall 2016 Mission we saw approximately 1500 patients and filled more than 7000 prescriptions in 5 clinic days! Our team consisted of 47 which included: Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistant's, Pharmacists, Medical Residents, Registered Nurses, EMS, Medical Students, Physician Assistant Students, IT Support, Translators, Logistical Support, Local Peace Corps Volunteers, Ground support and Local Red Cross Volunteers. 
During this mission, we implemented an electronic documentation record, enrolled more than 100 patients in a diabetic study, started 5 patients on insulin, distributed hundreds of pairs of reading glasses, sent two patients to the hospital via ambulance, and collaborated with Dr. Ernani Saduri and LIG, as well as the local Peace Corps and Red Cross Volunteers.

On April 16, 2016, two Waves of Health teams returned to the Province of Dajabon. One team stayed in the city of Dajabon, while the other pressed on to the rural town of Restauracion. It was the fourteenth medical mission to the city of Dajabon and the second to Restauracion. Both teams worked long hours enduring difficult conditions. Over 2,000 patients were evaluated and treated on this mission. Every patient with a chronic medical condition such as hypertension or diabetes was given a three to six month supply of medications. Patients with acute problems such as asthma or infection were also treated for long term wellness. In partnership with Vitamin Angels, Waves of Health Pharmacists gave every child Vitamin A and every young woman was given a supply of prenatal vitamins. Over 400 pairs of reading glasses and 300 pairs of sunglasses were dispensed. Local first responders were trained by Waves of Health instructors in Dajabon. As always patients received their care and medications for no charge. A special thank you to the Metz family of Dajabon for continuing to provide vital logistical support and gracious hospitality. Thank you to all of the volunteers who went on the mission and took care of so many people. Thank you to all of the people who sent funds and supplies and did many unseen things to make the mission possible.  

On June 6, a large team returned to the Dominican Republic.  Despite a several hour airline delay that included a refueling stop in Miami, the mission work began as planned on Sunday, June 7.  A Waves of Health team returned to Dajabón. Patients were seen at the Salineros clinic, La Vigia, Sabana Larga and La  Aviacione.  Another Waves team went to the Campo Restauracion an hour’s drive south of Dajabón. Free Primary Medical and Pharmacy care was provided at these sites to over 1000 patients.   The EMS team also continued to train the local Dajabón First Responders.  A electronic medical record system was tested on this mission and will be operational on future missions. The Metz family (as usual) provided logistical, administrative and spiritual support.

On November 1, 2014 Waves of Health returned to the Dominican Republic for the twelfth time. Once again, a team of physicians, nurses, EMTs, pharmacists and translators went to the border town of Dajabón in the northwest part of the country on the Haitian border. As always, Sister Laura hosted Waves of Health at her school/clinic in the Barrio Sur. A base pharmacy was set up in one of the school rooms . From this base, the Waves team also went to the farming villages of LaVigia and Sabana Larga for full clinic days, and the Dajabon section of La Avionones.

Waves of Health Returned to Dajabón April 2014.

On October 26, 2013, Waves of Health returned to the Dominican Republic for its eleventh medical mission. Once again, the team went to the border town of Dajabón in the northwest part of the country. Our team was fortunate to include physicians from various specialties, such as emergency medicine, internal medicine, gastroenterology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. The team also included nurses, pharmacists, a pharmacy technician, as well as a public health advisor. During the first two days, patients were seen in Barrio Sur at a local clinic managed by Sister Laura Villalona. At Barrio Sur, we collaborated with physicians from the Family Medicine Residency Program at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia University Medical Center) to provide care to hundreds of patients. On Tuesday, our team went to a small community called La Vigia, just outside Dajabón. Wednesday morning, follow-ups and emergency cases were seen at the Barrio Sur clinic. Also, part of the team went to a local nursing home to examine their patients and identify their medication and supply needs. Thursday, the Waves team traveled to the farming village of Sabana Larga for a full day of clinic. And Friday morning, patients were seen at La Aviación, another small community just outside Dajabón

On April 20th, Waves of Health returned to the Dominican Republic for their tenth medical mission. This years team came from as far as California and as close as New York, New Jersey, Maine, and Connecticut. The team of 30 volunteers continued to provide care to the border town of Dajabon on the Haitian border.

On November 3, 2012 Waves of Health returned to the Dominican Republic for the ninth time. Once again a team went to the Border town of Dajabon in the northwest part of the country on the Haitian border. Patients were seen in the Barrio Sur at Sister Laura’s Salineros clinic. A base pharmacy was set up in one of the school rooms . From this base, the Waves team went to the farming villages of LaVigia and Sabana Larga for full clinic days.

On April 14th, 2012 the Waves of Health team under the direction of Humberto Jimenez, vice-president, boarded a plane for their 8th medical mission to Dajabon, DR. The team of 28 healthcare professionals and support staff (8 doctors, 2 nurses, 3 physician assistants, 7 pharmacists, 3 EMTs, and 7 support staff) met our hosts, The Metz family, in Santo Domingo. The team then traveled 9 hours to frontier town of Dajabon. With (35) luggages filled with medications and supplies. The team members came from as far as Hawaii, California, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania. Waves of Health once again joined forces with LIG Global. The medical team treated more than 1450 patients and the surgical team performed 55 major and minor surgeries. The Diabetes Clinic under the direction of Dr. Dan Sheps saw 68 patients return for reevaluation and 66 new patients were evaluated. A group of EMT Squad members from Edison, NJ lead by Neel Mehta joined this mission to evaluate the first response care in Dajabon and initiate some basic first aid skills training to local squads and emergency room personnel.

Waves of Health returned to Dajabon on October 29, 2011. A surgical team from LIG Global lead by Drs. Ernani Sadural, Raghu Thunga and Sarah Timmapuri joined the Waves mission. A combined force of 25 doctors, 7 nurses, 8 pharmacists, 11 support staff, one physician assistant, and 7 Peace Corps translators worked with Tomas Metz and his family to provide care to 1800 medical patients and 150 surgical patients. The addition of surgical and gynecological care and ultrasound imaging enabled Waves of Health to provide better care to underserved patients in Dajabon.

The team arrived in Puerto Plata with 32 bags of medications and supplies. Dominican Director of Operations Tomas Metz met the team with a truck to transport the supplies approximately 100 miles to Dajabon. The medical doctors were Attending physicians Carmen Dominguez-Rafer, MD, MPH, Julia Cassetta, MD, Christopher Boni, DO, and Nhat Nguyen, MD. Resident physicians were Daphne MacBruce, MD, Jeremy V. Pinyard, MD, Gerald Maddalozzo, DO, and Gabriel Rose, DO. Obstetrician/Gynecologist Ernani Sadural, MD and anesthesiologist Raghu Thunga, MD also joined the medical staff. Amanda de la Cruz, LPN and AnnaMarie Matos, RN, APNc were the nurses on the mission. Translation was provided by Marsil Suriel and Marlene Pena. Peace Corps volunteers Andrea Montague, Sarah Zehner, Adam Fivenson, and Melissa Puiconon also helped with translation as well as with the pharmacy and triage. The pharmacy was led by Sonia Patel, PharmD., BCPS and Lesly Jurado, PharmD., BCPS. Jennifer Woo, PharmD and Nicole Janusz completed the pharmacy staff. Marcello Bonvini, Andrea Zenewitz, John Tiralosi, CPA and John Koerner, MPH, CIH provided invaluable support with everything from technical to triage.

On Saturday February 27, 2010 a Waves of Health team returned to Dajabon, Dominican Republic to provide medical care to underserved communities. The team consisted of doctors Chris Boni, Raj Tayal, Sobiya Khan, Kasia Koscielna, Amy Calimlim, Nhat Nguyen, and Elie Salem, nurse practitioner AnnaMarie Matos, nurse Amanda Melendez, translators Marsil Suriel, Gladys Guzman, Marlene Pena, Carolyn Espailllat-Jimenez, pharmacists Humberto Jimenez, Sammy Reveron, Sonia Patel, Jessica Jakubiec, IT specialist Marcello Bonvini, Medical students Dan Shep and John Matulis, photographer Robert A. Cumins, filmmaker Kyle Pahlow, and Morgan Berk.