Lisa Espiritu, Pharm. D

In July of this year, Drs. Calderon and Perez held their first annual medical mission to Santiago de Chuco.
Although I was not involved in the detailed planning of the mission, I would like to comment on how well planned
and efficient our trip was. Had I not known this was the first trip they had organized, I would have thought it was more like the tenth annual trip. From the moment we landed in Lima to the time we left Santiago de Chuco, everything went as planned.
The success of this medical mission is attributed to the fact that Santiago de Chuco is Drs. Calderon and Perez’ home town. Not only did this provide the networking and local connections needed to plan such a large event, it provided them with the passion to give back to their community. The love and devotion these two doctors have for helping the people of Santiago quickly transcended among each member of the group and provided us with a more meaningful perspective. I have had many experiences in my past providing medical care in a developing country. However, the week I spent in Santiago de Chuco was one of the most memorable of my life. The people of the town have a
desperate need for basic medical care. They are loving, humble, and grateful people. One of the most enriching experiences was having the opportunity to participate in the town’s annual festival. It allowed us to understand the culture and people to a much greater degree. The trip was so much more than providing medical care.
Lisa Espiritu, Pharm.D.