Dr. Tara Hulbert, OB/GYN Resident

The first day is always chaotic. That is what Carol, the Prevention International No Cervical Cancer (PINCC) program director told us. I felt myself relax and remembered why I love working abroad. We come with goals and ideas of how we want to help and make a difference, but the local environment will ultimately dictate the work done. And the environment is difficult to predict. PINCC has a successful track of working in many different countries in a variety of settings, so this “chaos” is something written into their agenda. I had come on the trip with Dr. Gupta, one of my own OB/GYN attendings who is fluent in Spanish and well versed to international work. So I knew whatever the day and trip would bring, there would be plenty of support. … my global health experience with PINCC was everything I hoped it would be. Most work trips I have done in the past have left me wondering if I really made any difference at all. This trip was different. I understood I was part of a process, a meaningful process that would help to transfer a specific life-saving skill to the hands of the local doctors that could and would help to save many women’s lives from a preventable cancer. And I left with optimism, hope, and satisfaction that PINCC was truly doing something positive in every community they touched and I was honored to be a part of it. My self growth was also very apparent throughout this trip and was very fortunate to accompany and learn from Dr. Gupta, who is an inspiring obstetrician/gynecologist devoted to global health, on this trip. I look forward to being a future PINCC supporter and volunteer in the future.