Adventist Mission Team Providing Care in Dominican Republic

Thirty-six people representing the four hospitals of Adventist Midwest Health are traveling to the Dominican Republic this month to provide medical care and assistance.

Hospital representatives from Adventist Bolingbrook, Adventist GlenOaks, Adventist Hinsdale and Adventist La Grange Memorial hospitals will spend a week in the Dominican Republic from Jan. 19-26, working with the organization El Fuego del Sol.

While there, the team will provide medication, medical and dental treatment and donated items to residents in need.

El Fuego del Sol provides ecological and social solutions to improve the lives of people living in developing countries. It focuses specifically on issues that Haitian and Dominican families face daily.

The Adventist Midwest Health hospitals take part in a mission trip annually. Since 2006, hospital representatives have traveled to places such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana and Honduras.

“Our mission trips allow us to bring physical, spiritual and emotional healing to people who need it so much,” said John Rapp, vice president of ministries and mission for Adventist Midwest Health. “Our goal is to serve the poorest of the poor, people who have no access to health care, and if they did, could not afford it.”

Among those scheduled to attend the mission trip are:

Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital: Geoff Brooks of Oswego, Rodolfo Cortes of Lemont, Cindy D. Hagner of Plainfield, Kathy Kayhart of Bolingbrook, Amanda Orrantia of Plainfield, Dr. Charles Paik of Naperville, Ana Payne of Bolingbrook.

Adventist GlenOaks Hospital: Heidie Fuentes of Glendale Heights, Emily Goulding of Chicago, Jennifer Lema of Hanover Park, Jillian Pateros of Brookfield, Dr. Joseph Shanahan of Willowbrook.

Adventist Hinsdale Hospital: Sharon Bowers of Woodridge, Dhena Byers of Downers Grove, Tracy Daly of Downers Grove, Dr. Stephanie Freels of Hinsdale, Kinsey Jackson-Ford of North Riverside, Colleen Pospishil of Mokena, Rosa Soto of Elgin, Dr. Rosanne Vasiloff of Chicago, Dr. Gregory Wallin of Westmont, Dr. Lanny Wilson of Hinsdale.

Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital: Dr. Magda Gabriel of Lombard, Dr. Pamela Solowski of Lemont.

Adventist Midwest Health regional: Jennifer Hadraba of Westmont, Dr. Gary Lipinski of Burr Ridge, Ann Marie Niemer of Westmont, John Rapp of Hinsdale.

Community members: Catherine Cyrzan and Jennifer Cyrzan of Germantown, Wis., Bloomingdale firefighter Thomas Manion of Mount Prospect, pharmacist Richard Nahlik of Hinsdale, Joyce Passero of Clarendon Hills, physical therapist Frank Puc of Downers Grove, psychiatrist Dr. William Puga of Carol Stream, physician assistant Margaret Wallach of Hinsdale.