Danielle Berlin

Danielle Berlin spent four weeks of her summer studying medical Spanish, reproductive health, and the health care system in Quito, Ecuador.  During her time in Ecuador, Danielle worked in three different hospitals:  La Maternidad Isidro Ayora, El Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin IESS, and El Hospital Militar.  She assisted doctors in the obstetrics/gynecology wards and was able to observe all aspects of female health care, including deliveries, Cesarean sections, DNCs, tubal ligations, vaginal mesh implants, laparoscopies, colposcopies, pap smears, and patient consults.  She learned medical terminology (in English and Spanish) and skills such as taking blood pressure, suturing, and determining the week of pregnancy simply by feeling the stomach.  Danielle also was able to witness the stark differences in the quality of care given based on economic status by having the opportunity to shadow in a public hospital, a social security hospital, and a military hospital.  Further, she was able to explore the effects that the machismo and Catholic cultures have had on a woman’s ability to ask for and receive reproductive health care, especially in relation to contraception.  She was able to interact with patients at a variety of ages – from women in their early teens to patients in their sixties, which also taught her how a person’s health needs change over their lifetime.  The conversations she had with the patients and her observations of doctor patient relationships illuminated the importance of treating the person, not just the illness.  Danielle also spent time taking Spanish classes and engaging in cultural activities (such as learning the traditional card game cuarenta) with the Amazing Andes Spanish School.  In her free time, Danielle explored the city of Quito and spent time with her host mom, Magui, who taught her a great deal about Ecuadorian culture and politics over the dinner table.  On the weekends, Danielle had the opportunity to travel to other cities in Ecuador where was able to experience the jungle, the coast, and the mountains, and even try the Ecuadorian specialty, cuy (guinea pig).  Between her time at the hospitals, at home, and travelling, Danielle’s language skills, interpersonal skills, and appreciation for both Ecuadorian and American culture all increased tremendously.  She gained a greater understanding of global health and was inspired to go into osteopathic medicine, specializing in obstetrics.