General Info
In 2005, a group of volunteers in various clinical specialties formed a partnership with the community of Peralta, Dominican Republic. In 2010, a similar partnership was formed in Jerusalem, a resettlement community outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The mission is to provide manpower, supplies, medications, training and encouragement to communities with the goal of helping these communities become empowered and positioned to offer independent and sustainable care. In addition to clinical work, Rush volunteers have also been involved in development of water purification and distribution, revenue from which supports operations in the partner clinics.
What is it?
Partnering with local physicians and community health workers, our teams assist with the overwhelming need for care in the community. Participants on trips diagnose, treat and manage acute and chronic medical conditions as well as provide health education. Currently, there are ten primary care trips a year. During this trip, you will reside in Santo Domingo in a guest house, where you will have shared rooms, access to WiFi, and occasional hot showers.
Where is it?
- Peralta: Peralta was Community Empowerment's, our non-for-profit partnership, first partner community in the Dominican Republic. Located in the mountains, Peralta is home to over 20,000 people. CE worked with community leaders to develop a local healthcare clinic and create our model of sustainability. In 2018, the clinic was registered with the Ministry of Health, providing funding for staff and medication. This is the first community partnership to become self-sustaining.
- Villa Verde: Villa Verde is a settlement community located 45 minutes north of Santo Domingo. Villa Verde began as a displaced community formed by urban overflow. Our partnership with this community began in 2018 and is self-sustaining since 2024.
- Duquesa: Duquesa is a settlement community located 45 minutes outside of Santo Domingo. It is mainly inhabited by Haitian migrants and is one of the largest garbage dumps in the country.
- Oregano Grande: Orégano Grande, located in Hato Nuevo Cortés, Las Yayas de Viajama in the province of Azua, is an agricultural community of 490 families, located outside of Santo Domingo. The first trip was in August 2025. Located 2 hours west of Santo Domingo.
- Rancho Arriba: La Vigía, located in Rancho Arriba, San José de Ocoa, is a community of approximately 1,200 residents. Many of its residents originally lived in mountainous areas but were relocated by the government after a major storm.
- La Victoria: La Virgen, located in La Victoria, Santo Domingo Norte, is a community of approximately 2,000 residents and 479 homes. It was founded in 1997 by the Asociación de Campesinos Sin Tierra, a group of families seeking a safe place to establish permanent housing and stability for their children.
When is it?
Dominican Republic (Saturday-Saturday)
Dates
- July 11-17, 2026
- August 15-22, 2026
- September 26-Oct 3, 2026
- October 24-31, 2026
- January 16-23, 2027
- February 13-20, 2027
- May 8-15, 2027
- June 19-26, 2027
Who can participate?
Teams are comprised of attending staff, residents, medical students, pharmacists, physical therapists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychotherapists, nurses and support staff.
How do I get credit?
Fourth-year medical students can participate in two ways:
- Volunteer (take vacation time and participate on a trip)
- To receive credit, students must meet with Dr. Aziz, be accepted into the M4 elective, and then are able to participate on a trip. Please review full criteria for M4 elective prior to committing.
How much does it cost?
Team members are responsible for paying for airfare (varies), trip insurance ($50-$80), and a $1450 logistics fee (which covers lodging, meals, ground transportation, and administrative fees).
Students, residents, nurses, and support staff may be eligible for travel scholarships contingent on the availability of funds. Employees are eligible to apply for partial reimbursement using ENHANCEMENT funds.
Information Packets & Resources
Interested in participating?
Want to participate on a trip, please email global_health@rush.edu to submit interest.