DPT Students Contribute Clinical Skills and Teamwork on Honduras Trip

Second-year DPT students Brenna Hammer, SPT, LAT, ATC, and Noelle Cedeño joined a School of Nursing and School of Medicine trip to Honduras, where the team served individuals living and working in Santa Cruz Lempira and La Laguna.

The Duke group—comprised of PT, nursing, and medical students—provided evaluations and treatments for community members ranging from infants to adults in their 90s. Many residents work in physically demanding roles, which means the students spend much of their time addressing shoulder, neck, low back, and knee conditions. They also had the opportunity to share education on biomechanical principles and adapt their care to an environment with limited medical supplies.

“I think the thing that I reflect on the most is how great an opportunity it was to experience interprofessional work and to be able to learn from our disciplines what their goals and priorities for patients are. Additionally, it was a good challenge to figure out how to evaluate and treat patients with very limited supplies and resources,” said Cedeño.

Hammer added that collaborating with local doctors and nurses offered valuable insight into how healthcare functions in settings with different systems, expectations, and constraints.

In their free time, Hammer and Cedeño explored the Mayan Ruins of Copan, went zip-lining, and toured a bird park.

Overall, the trip exemplifies the institution’s commitment to compassionate service, teamwork across professions, and preparing future clinicians to think creatively and respond effectively in a variety of care environments.