Twenty-two year-old Jasmine Orozco is scheduled to head to Panama this summer as part of a volunteer medical corps sent by Global Medical Brigades, an international nonprofit dedicated to promoting the economic and health needs of remote, rural communities in four nations: Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama, and Ghana.
Orozco, the daughter of Carolina Garcia, a 13-year veteran secretary at Boxer & Gerson (pictured above with Jasmine), was responsible for raising her own funds to finance the journey, which will span 7-9 days. She received assistance from Boxer & Gerson and various other sources in addition to her own funds from employment to help reach her fundraising goal.
Orozco’s time in-country will include shadowing physicians while also participating directly in distributing medications prescribed by doctors, checking patient vitals prior to medical evaluations, taking patients’ medical histories and blood samples, serving as a Spanish/English interpreter for the physicians and dentists treating patients, and distributing various other personal health and hygiene items to needy patients.
The trip, originally scheduled for June in Nicaragua, was recently postponed until August and redirected to Panama in the wake of political turmoil in Nicaragua that may have affected the logistical support necessary for a successful outcome.
“Boxer & Gerson is pleased to help support our employees and family members in their volunteer efforts whenever possible,” said the firm’s managing partner, John Harrigan. “Global Medical Brigades does great, much needed work, and helping Jasmine reach her goal to make this trip a reality fell right in line with the values of our firm.”
Orozco recently graduated from Diablo Valley College and is on her way to California State University, Northridge in the fall, where she intends to pursue studies leading to a career in dentistry.
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