Vivian Dutton
  • Biology
  • Class of 2016
  • Garnet Valley, Pa.

Vivian Dutton to Volunteer in Panama with Kutztown University Global Brigades Chapter

2014 Dec 3

Vivian Dutton of Garnet Valley, Pa. , and the Kutztown University Global Brigades (GB) chapter will travel to Panama in January to aid impoverished South American communities which lack access to medical care. The KU chapter of Global Brigade (GB) is open to all students regardless of major or year.

The global brigades organization is the largest student-led international nonprofit. It serves to resolve global health and economic disparities by working with volunteers and the community to implement health, economic and education programs to meet a community's development goals.

The GB chapter at KU was started by senior biology majors Leanne Ruoff and Kyle Richardson in fall 2014. Ruoff participated in a GB trip to Nicaragua in summer 2014 and was moved to start a chapter at KU.

"I loved being able to make a difference," Ruoff said. "It was really a life changing experience and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to open a chapter at Kutztown."

The trip to Panama will be from Jan. 3 through Jan. 9. Dr. Mark Ruoff, an orthopedic spine surgeon, will attend the trip along with 24 other volunteers. Volunteers will help at the medical clinic and in the community. Their duties will include including triaging patients; taking vitals; helping dentists, doctors and nurses care for patients; giving seminars to adults and children about health and wellness; and showing children how to brush their teeth.

The chapter hopes to announce more opportunities next year. For more information about the Global Brigades Organization, go to www.globalbrigades.org.