Heidi Wicks

For Kaetan Waghmare who receives his Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) this spring, the healthcare community spans far beyond the borders of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Last summer, Mr. Waghmare spearheaded a Global Brigades trek and returned with a new perspective on pharmacy practice.

The team of 30 traveled to Honduras to construct hygiene stations that provide basic medical services, and encountered many illnesses and treatments that are nonexistent in Canada. 

They were humbled by the appreciation they felt from the locals.

“The facilities we built for the families would be considered rudimentary in our society, but for them it was life changing,” said Mr. Waghmare, who is returning this summer with a team of 60.

An additional brigade will be added this year.

“In the water brigade,” he explains, “the team will lay pipelines to carry clean, safe drinking water to members of rural communities. I think the addition of this brigade is a very important step to leave a lasting impression on the communities, as most of the illnesses that we treat in the clinic occur because of unsafe drinking water. It’s kind of our way of practicing some preventative medicine.”

Mr. Waghmare will begin his first term in the Faculty of Medicine in September, and cites initiatives like Dr. Andrew Furey’s Team Broken Earth as inspirational. He strives to use his background in pharmacy and medicine to do similar work throughout his career.

“The way the locals are so appreciative of everything we do is quite striking and you just kind of realize that this short period of 10 days from your life can mean a lifetime of change for the people of Honduras.”