RCDS Alum Elise Reynolds Takes Mission Trip to Dominican Republic

Elise Reynolds, RCDS Class of 2010, volunteered at the The Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) clinic in the Dominican Republic with a team of ophthalmic surgeons for the second year in a row. Working 14 hour days and performing 20 surgeries per doctor, the team completed an astonishing 1,000 surgeries in just one week. Finishing her senior year at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, the seventeen year-old honor student will attend Lafayette College in the fall and plans to study pre-med and Spanish.

Elise first heard about the ILAC mission trip ten years ago from Dr. Brian Campolattaro, a renowned pediatric ophthalmologist who has been doing mission work in the Dominican Republic for the past 10 years. The facilities are located in Licey al Medio, a suburb about five miles outside of Santiago de los Caballeros. For many villagers, this is the first time they will receive health care in a modern facility with the latest technology. The clinic offers experiences in the dental, medical, nursing physical therapy and occupational therapy and is part of an international Catholic health care and educational organization that allows opportunities for college and high school students to gain invaluable service learning experience working with medical teams and full immersion in the Dominican culture. About her mission work, Elise commented: “This has been coming for a long time. When I was finally able to go, it was a dream come true!”

Working alongside the ophthalmology teams in pre-op, post-op and even in the operating room at times, Elise gained extensive hands-on experience. Elise also discovered that she had an aptitude for leading the Skype exchanges. She used her ability to speak Spanish by acting as translator for the Dominican patients and American students during Skype sessions with Spanish classes from RCDS, RFH and 20 other schools in the tri-state area. Elise also had the opportunity to Skype with students from her alma mater The Rumson Country Day School.  “I got to share with the students how much the people needed their help and, hopefully, inspired them to get involved. Being the translator or the connector in the Skype sessions allowed me to understand the patients and see how this medical care is changing their quality of life. I became more grateful to be there every day.”

Elise remembers community service activities in seventh grade at RCDS and credits Mrs. Denny, RCDS History teacher and Director of Community Service, with inspiring her to get involved. During her time at RCDS, Elise was also inspired by RCDS alumni coming back to school and sharing their service learning experiences. “In the future, I hope to come back to RCDS and hopefully inspire others like I have been inspired. According to Mrs. Denny, “Seventh grade is the most fertile period with community service. At that time in their development, students are committed to service. They are in a unique position to translate their advantage and opportunities to others and, we want to instill in the them a feeling of responsibility and stewardship.” About the RCDS community service program, Mrs. Denny said, “Part of this is all part and parcel of learning about human rights and the human experience on a local and global level. Becoming young, informed activists who stand up for what they believe in is a powerful skill,” said Mrs. Denny.

Elise taught many of the patients a few English words so they could directly interact with the students. Although a world apart, the students and patients were able to communicate with each other. “I want to give back when I am a doctor because it changed my life to see the gratitude on the patients’ faces. One of the patients said, ‘God thanks you for what you have done for us.’ It touched me so much to be there,” shared Elise.