Faith, Service and Medicine Unite on Mission Trip to Senegal
Posted on August 6, 2026
This summer, a group of faculty physicians, alumni and 15 medical students from the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine traveled to Malicounda, Senegal, where they spent 10 days delivering essential medical care to underserved communities.
Led by the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama (CMMSA), the team cared for more than 500 patients during five clinic days, providing basic medical evaluations, preventive care, health education and prescription medications at no cost.
The outreach medical clinics primarily served the Wolof people, Senegal's largest ethnic group, many of whom speak Wolof as their primary language. Partnering with local community leaders, the team reached patients and families in rural villages who otherwise had little access to healthcare.
“Unlike many of us here in the United States, the people we served do not have simple medications or basic treatments at their disposal,” said Richard Rieske, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “Even over-the-counter medications that we routinely use here can be prohibitively expensive and difficult to access for many people.”
Because most of the medical student volunteers were in their pre-clinical years of training, the trip gave them an opportunity to develop physical exam and diagnostic skills while working in small groups alongside attending physicians.
“The students are always excited to see when the PowerPoint lecture becomes a real-life clinical scenario,” said Rieske, who is also a gastrointestinal surgeon at USA Health.
Second-year medical student Caroline Lloyd described the mission trip as an “unforgettable opportunity.”
“I gained so much hands-on experience in patient care and clinical reasoning and got to learn the ins and outs of caring for patients across a significant language barrier,” Lloyd said. “I also learned more about working with a multidisciplinary healthcare team and how vital teamwork is in patient care.”
One patient encounter, in particular, illustrated that lesson.
While working with physical therapist Dennis Fell, M.D., a 1986 graduate of the Whiddon College of Medicine, Lloyd met a young woman with severe back pain that prevented her from fulfilling her responsibilities as the primary caregiver in her home. Together, Fell and Lloyd taught the patient exercises to relieve her pain.
“She walked into the clinic clearly very upset and in pain, and by the time she left she was smiling,” Lloyd said. “Even though her back pain was not completely resolved, she felt relief in having the skills she needed to continue to help her back heal. That encounter is a great example of what is possible when healthcare providers truly care for each patient and put their all into every visit.”
For third-year medical student Tillery French, the trip built on her previous medical mission to Peru with CMMSA last summer.
“While both trips centered on serving underserved communities, Senegal exposed me to a vastly different culture, disease burden and patient population,” she said. “We worked with Senegalese pastors who gave us insight into the unique medical and social challenges within their community. This broadened my understanding of global health and reinforced that effective care begins with understanding the community I'm serving.”
French also witnessed how connection can make a meaningful difference, no matter the setting.
“Compassionate care isn't dependent on having the latest technology or extensive diagnostic testing, but on listening carefully, building trust and making the most of the resources available,” French said. “The physicians who served alongside us exemplified these qualities every day, and their mentorship left a lasting impression.”
Beyond the clinical experience, the mission strengthened French's desire to incorporate faith and service into her career as a physician.
“It reminded me that medicine extends beyond diagnosing and treating disease,” she said. “It's about meeting people where they are, serving with humility, and caring for the whole person. I plan to continue participating in global medical missions throughout my career because experiences like this have a lasting impact on both the communities we serve and the physicians we become.”
Rieske said the students embraced the challenges of practicing medicine in an austere environment, working in a simple cinder block building without many of the conveniences common in U.S. healthcare settings.
“The students worked eagerly and without complaint,” he said. “At the conclusion of the week, the village leaders gathered in a traditional meeting to thank us for our visit and for the benefit it was to have received care from our team.”
The experience, Rieske said, affirmed his confidence in the next generation of physicians.
“The trip reminds me that the future of healthcare is bright,” he said. “The student physicians at the Whiddon College of Medicine are exceptionally talented, compassionate and motivated. I look forward to watching their impact here on the Gulf Coast and throughout the world as they complete their medical training.”
