Welcome back! While our first month in the Dominican Republic focused on exploring the various projects and programs offered by DOFMI, July was largely shaped by clinical insights and needs assessments—introducing us to new aspects of the healthcare infrastructure in the Dominican Republic.
We began week six shadowing Dr. Jaisson Colon Bautista in the delivery room department at Los Minas Hospital. During each C-section delivery we observed, we witnessed the collaborative and supportive environment fostered by the doctors and nurses, ensuring a smooth delivery process for the mother. Dr. Colon, the Chief Resident of Gynecology, worked closely with other residents, guiding them through the delivery and offering words of encouragement. While this environment might be intimidating to many, the welcoming nature of the nurses, residents, and doctors created a reassuring experience for the mothers and everyone involved. As the mothers delivered their babies, nurses and residents stood by in case of emergency and used the opportunity to learn from one another. At the end of our shift, we learned how to perform the same stitches the surgeons did in the delivery room, focusing on correctly holding the forceps and suturing material to create the “knots.” It felt like learning how to play an instrument—training my fingers to master the unfamiliar forceps and navigate them efficiently. I ended up using more suturing material than necessary to complete a proper stitch, but I’ll get better next time!
Later in the week, we visited Hospital Pediátrico Dr. Robert Reid Cabral—the largest pediatric hospital in Santo Domingo. While most of our time so far was spent in maternal hospitals, it was exciting to explore a facility dedicated to younger patients, with over 16 departments spread across multiple buildings. During conversations with Dr.Eusebio, we received valuable feedback on the design of both the controller and massage cuff for the ScarStretch device.
This included suggestions to switch the material of the massage cuff to something more comfortable for the end user, while still maintaining a waterproof surface for easy sanitation between uses. They also recommended ways to decrease the size of both the controller and the massage cuff to better fit pediatric patients, as the current design is more suited for adults. This mirrored our earlier discussion with the UNAPEC team, where we explored options for reducing the size of the motor—currently the largest component in the controller—by considering more compact and powerful alternatives like a brushless motor. In addition to their feedback about switching to a battery-powered design for easy portability, they raised important questions about how to increase adherence to treatment (incentivizing multiple massages throughout the day) and how to improve the device’s flexibility and adaptability for scars located elsewhere on the body. They also expressed their appreciation for the silicone material and massage motion of the device. These are all invaluable insights that future teams can use to enhance the ScarStretch device!
When we weren’t in the hospital, we conducted statistical analysis on PUMANI data that DOFMI had collected over the past year and worked on our Los Minas observational report. This included compiling our needs assessment with complementary literature review to better understand the healthcare landscape in the Dominican Republic. One observation we made from the first week was the prevalent use of paper records over electronic health records. In fact, many first-year residents spend the initial months learning how to properly file paperwork. As someone accustomed to doctors using laptops in patient rooms to update my status and history, it was fascinating to see everything manually written in manila folders or held in blue clipboards as they were passed between rooms.
On July 20th, we had the privilege of joining Dr. Colon for a 24-hour shift. For the first time, we accompanied Dr. Colon and the residents on their morning rounds, witnessing their kindness and patience as they addressed concerns and ensured each mother felt genuinely cared for. This sense of compassion and guidance was felt among all doctors and nurses, from the initial waiting room to delivery and postpartum care. We observed how Dr. Colon and the other healthcare staff supported each other with lighthearted jokes and encouragement, despite the long hours. During quieter moments, we had the chance to learn more about Dr. Colon’s medical journey and his commitment to his work. This is his final year as a resident at Los Minas Hospital, but he hopes to return during his fellowship. As an aspiring physician, hearing his story was both inspiring and reassuring of the path I will soon follow. Despite his deep commitment to patient care, he always made time for family, friends, and his passion for music. Staying overnight and being on call provided us with a deeper understanding of the dedication and expertise required in this specialty, as well as the flow of care mothers in the Dominican Republic receive. I’m immensely grateful to Dr. Colon for allowing us to shadow him, and for introducing us to the delicious Pica Pollo, a beloved Dominican dish!
Best,
Zoe
Goodbye photos with Teresa and George from DOFMI!
