Reflections from Hillside: Lessons in Care, Gratitude, and Growth - Douglas Marks, Physician Assistant

In 2024, I had the privilege of completing a  rotation at the Hillside Health Clinic in Belize.  During my time there, I was inspired by the  dedicated staff and the gratitude expressed by  the local population for the care they received  at this small clinic. Not once did I encounter a  frustrated patient who was ungrateful for their  care, a stark contrast to my experiences during  my brief time as a physician assistant. 

One particularly eventful week at the clinic  stood out to me the most. One day began a  few minutes early when a mother rushed in  with her sick four-year-old child. With only the  medical director, the pharmacist, and myself  present, we quickly utilized the lab to perform a  rapid strep test. This test enabled us to prescribe  the correct antibiotic, helping the young girl feel  better and easing her mother’s worries.  

Next, we saw an American man who had  relocated to Belize after retiring from the Armed  Forces. He was suffering from pruritus, scratching  his lower legs until they bled and became  infected. Working with our interdisciplinary team,  which included a dermatologist volunteering  from the United States, we could prescribe  medication that cleared the infection and  provided the relief he desperately needed.  At first, this patient’s chief complaint baffled  me: how could a man experience such severe  itching without an apparent cause? After  consulting with the dermatologist, we re interviewed the patient and discovered that he  had suffered a back injury nearly 50 years ago  during his service to the United States. This old  injury was likely the root of his current complaint,  prompting us to shift our focus from common  anti-itch medications to a more appropriate  course of treatment. In this moment, I realized  the importance of patient history—no matter  how acute or sudden the onset of the chief  complaint, a thorough understanding of patient  history often leads to the correct answer. I  realized that in my future endeavors, I must slow  down and take the time with each patient to  ensure they receive the highest quality of care possible. 

The week concluded with the medical director  and I attending to a mother who had managed  to find just a few minutes to address a medical condition that had been troubling her for  several months. Various health and social factors  complicated her care, so we had to be efficient  and thorough in our treatment plan. Again, we  drew from the clinic’s many resources, including  the pharmacy, ultrasound, and lab, to ensure  this mother could return home healthy and  capable of providing care for her children.  

This patient care would not be possible without  the countless volunteers who dedicate their time  and resources. Please consider volunteering or  donating to help keep Hillside Health Clinic a  wonderful place for care and learning.