Jen Kolle introduced this week's speaker, Vice President
of the Rotaract Club at TAMUCC, Kayla Stoval, who had
received sponsorship from the Southside CC Rotary club
to Costa Rica for medical work.
(Below, images of Kayla Stoval.
Photo Courtesy: Gary Blum, DDS, MS)
Kayla Stoval described her trip to Costa Rica in great details to the meeting attendees, saying
that she had spent two weeks on medical mission work, which was organized by International
Service Learning (ISL). Founded by a Corpus Christi native, the ISL is a non-governmental
organization, which gives volunteers an opportunity to gain a hands-on experience in health,
community and educational programs.
13 student volunteers were on the same mission as Stoval from the United States, four of them
were from Texas. Stoval said that through the ISL programs, $180K in donations is made
available to approximately 215,000 individuals in 10 countries.
Describing her experience, Stoval stated that along with the other students, she worked with local
doctors to pay house visits to individuals in disadvantaged areas. They took surveys on mosquito
related diseases, such as malaria, then set up clinical appointments for those requiring extra care.
Working out of three triages, they held clinicals on specific days from 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Stoval
participated in conducting physical assessments, she was also given an opportunity to work in a
pharmacy. They were taught what to do by the physicians, and had hands-on experience in patient
management. According to Stoval, the experience left her with the knowledge of what a true health
professional does.
Stoval also described recreation days, during which she was able to bond with the other students from
the United States while playing soccer, experiencing monkeys up-close and visiting a beautiful beach.
In summing-up her story, Stoval talked about running into a Rotarian from South Africa, who helped
re-unite her with her trip advisor, after she "got lost" at the airport, on her way back to the United
States.
For her story, Kayla Stoval received a 4-way test pin from President, Michelle Maresh-Fuehrer.
