Doing good in the lives of others

When helping others is a calling, that dedication can inspire individuals to share their skills outside of regular working hours.

Learn about some Bloomington Perinatal Services team members who donate their time and assistance via medical missions.

Donna Cutshall, CNM

Her mission journey started as a family trip in 2002 when she, her husband and two children went to Mexico to build homes for families in need.

“Through that experience, we all realized just how blessed we are—with access to education, jobs, housing, and healthcare—and how deeply fulfilling it is to serve others.”

Since then, Cutshall has served in medical missions in Ghana, Kenya, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and others—she’s lost count of how many missions she’s been on.

For her recent trip to the Dominican Republic, she says their most significant work is the obstetric-related surgeries that the individuals may have otherwise never received. Her team also works alongside local healthcare professionals to provide PAP smears in rural villages, educational opportunities for Dominican OBGYN residents, food and supplies to several impoverished communities, and more.

“I believe we are meant to love and serve, and I’ve found profound purpose in doing so. You don’t have to travel far or spend much to make a difference—there’s work to do in every community—but for me, mission trips have been a meaningful way to put faith into action.”

Abby Hays, RN

The first of her three mission trips to Guatemala was a spontaneous decision during nursing school.

“The most rewarding part of the trip is seeing how grateful the people are when we’re holding a clinic.”

The mission she works with has three programs, with the clinic seeing and treating patients with vitamins, dewormer, pain medications, GI therapies, eye drops and medication for ear infections.

“I think these trips have been influential on my nursing practice by testing my clinical decision-making. We have limited resources to treat with, so we have to get creative with solutions and treatment plans. These trips also remind me to slow down when caring for patients, ensuring that I’m listening to them and taking the time to figure out what is best for them.”

Hays is becoming a nurse practitioner later this year and hopes to serve in a provider role on her next trip.

“The team is so amazing, motivated, and passionate about what we do, which drives me to continue to serve.”

Erin Jeffries, MD

She served on several mission trips to locations including Mexico, Germany, Turkey and Zimbabwe. Her most recent trip to the Dominican Republic marked the first time she was able to apply her surgical skills and expertise.

“Some of these patients wait a whole year for us to return to get surgery.

“It was refreshing to be able to just go and use my skills and knowledge to help people. I think that gets lost in our system, most people go into medicine because they want to help people, they want to meet a need. It rejuvenated my soul to go and just serve others.”

Jeffries shares that several team members served in multiple roles, from working in the operating room to washing instruments; no task was too small. She also enjoyed working with the OBGYN residents during the experience.

“I missed teaching, so it was a unique opportunity to offer my skills and expertise to help them add to their toolbox. They were incredible surgeons, and it was an honor to work alongside them.”

Rachel Manley, MD

While she went on a medical mission as an undergraduate, her most recent trip was very different as a team leader in the Dominican Republic, where she provided her surgical skills and taught local OBGYN medical residents.

“I feel so fortunate to have been able to be a part of the team.”

The group provided 20 gynecological surgeries over a week at no cost for people living in remote areas with limited resources and access to care. In one instance, Manley was performing a C-section when the power went out. She completed the surgery under a cellphone’s flashlight.

“We brought all our supplies, anesthesiologists, medications, etc., and the mission hospital provided the OR and recovery area spaces. And the local care teams can follow them up now post-operatively, so it felt great to be able to offer a really comprehensive care experience.

“I also learned a lot about different ways to do things, ways to reduce waste, and a reminder of the ‘why’ behind what we do on a daily basis and how important it is to the people we are caring for.”