Taking Care to All Corners of the World
This spring, members of Clarke’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program traveled to Cusco, Peru with International Medical Relief (IMR) to provide high-quality healthcare, medications, and education.
In just a week’s time, Instructor Kayte McQuillan and DNP students Madelyn Huschitt ’27 and Katie Gee ’27 worked with the IMR team to serve 511 patients in Cusco and surrounding villages. The services offered ranged from basic physical exams to acute care and medical education.
“This trip offered incredibly broad experience, working with babies to the elderly, experiencing everything from respiratory and orthopedic conditions and much more,” Kayte said. “You are sharpening your physical exam skills—there is no ultrasound you can roll in or a CT scan down the hall. It is challenging, but you also build trust with these people and their community, and they are so appreciative of the experience. It is wonderfully rewarding work.”
Kayte has traveled on medical mission trips personally and was excited to bring the opportunity to Clarke. When she shared it in class, Madelyn was one of the first to show interest.
“I traveled abroad as an undergraduate and loved it. When they offered a medical mission, I could not turn it down,” Madelyn said. “Providing care alongside Kayte was one of the most educational moments of DNP school to date. The strategies she used in assessing and treating this population with the limited resources we had were very eye-opening for me.”
This experience has also opened my eyes to how fortunate we are in the United States to be able to seek care in any situation.. In a world that seems like there is a lot we can complain about, it was refreshing to recognize the multitude of blessings we often take for granted. I was also able to take part in this trip with my mother, who is a nurse, so the entire trip will be a lifelong memory for us.
Alongside the Clarke representatives, IMR had a team of physical therapists, nurses, and other professionals. They also hire local interpreters to assist not only with medical Spanish translation, but the indigenous language of Quechua, which originated with the Incan empire.
“While we are there to work and work hard, these trips also offer fantastic cultural immersion,” Kayte said. “We tried local food, visited the local markets and shops, and explored historic sites. On our day off, Katie and I were able to travel to Machu Picchu and it was awe-inspiring.”
Clarke DNP is planning to offer another trip with IMR in June 2026, this time to Guatemala. While details are still being determined, anyone interested in participating can reach out to Kayte for more information—and that isn’t limited to DNP students.
“This is a passion project for me, and I’d love to expand the opportunity to Clarke’s undergraduate Nursing, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Spanish students, and more,” Kayte said. “This is a service mission that aligns with Clarke’s mission and values, and one that I hope we can continue well into the future.”