Zinacay Quiñones with a local child during the 2009 service trip to the Dominican Republic.

The students, who are in Quinnipiac's physician assistant program, will travel to the border communities of Sousa and Puerto Plata, both in the Dominican Republic, to help Dominican and Haitian refugees Jan. 2-9, 2010.

The University program, which works with the humanitarian organizations, Health Horizons International and Dominican Crossroads, is in its second year of service to refugees.

"The Quinnipiac role is to run the clinics," said Zinacay Quiñones '10, a student leader who is participating for the second year. "They have certain sites. We go to villages called 'bateys' where poor Dominicans and Haitian refugees live. We go to a different batey every day and set up a clinic in a church or in a school house."

She said the students essentially carry pharmacies in their suitcases. "Last year, we saw 892 people in four-and-a-half days," said Quiñones. "It was mind-blowing."

Quiñones said the people, particularly the Haitians, do not have adequate health care, and have to pay out of pocket for everything.

"I think that the number one reason students volunteered to participate for this trip was the ability of being able to carry this idea of service and help the less fortunate in another country," Quiñones said. "Our goal is to prevent and treat disease, thereby prolonging life and promoting health."

The group has set a fundraising goal of $5,000 for both trips, and hopes to exceed it. Currently, $2,940 has been raised. In order to reach the goal, each student going to the Dominican Republic is required to raise $200 from friends, family and their communities.

Quiñones said she and other students anticipate the trip will supplement much of what she has learned during her time at Quinnipiac. "Everyone who will be participating on this trip realizes the wealth of knowledge that awaits them once they reach the Dominican Republic," Quiñones said. "It is more than any class will ever be able to teach us. Not only will we be learning about the Haitian and Dominican cultures, but we will be learning so much about ourselves and more about what it means to be human."

To assist with their mission, the students are accepting monetary donations and donations of the following travel-size hygiene items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner. The items will be placed in Ziploc baggies to create hygiene packs for patients who are admitted into the public hospital. Checks can be made out to the "Quinnipiac PA Student Society." Packages and checks may be mailed to: Quinnipiac University, c/o N1HSC, Zinacay Quiñones, 275 Mount Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT, 06518.

"It is our hope to make our clinics a continuous project," Quiñones said. "This is not a one-time deal. We want to develop a relationship with the families in the communities where we set up our clinics. We hope to continue to be a part of this medical relief mission for years to come."

For more information, contact Quiñones at zinacay.quinones@quinnipiac.edu.