Saints Organize Mobile Clinics in Uganda

Saints are educated to go out in the world and make a difference, in both large ways and small. Four Siena alumni, two with newly minted diplomas and two from a previous generation, headed to Uganda for two weeks in July on a humanitarian trip to address medical and schooling needs.

Trinity Hogben '24 and Abigail Karpierz '24 joined Emanual Cirenza '90 M.D. and Craig Hall '01 as part of a group sent by Operation One, the American branch of the AIDS Orphans Education Trust (AOET). After 16 hours of flights and a three-hour drive over unpaved roads, they reached Bugembe, a small town in the central African nation. It was a return trip for all four, each of whom followed a different path to become involved with AOET.

Hogben's connection with Dr. Cirenza goes back a few years - he was her pediatrician. He was inspired by the charitable work of a medical colleague and has served in Uganda several times already. He then recruited Hogben to go on her first trip a couple years ago.

"He thought I would be a good fit for the team despite my lack of medical knowledge" she explained. "I was able to contribute to projects involving child welfare, child sponsorships, and work with a women's empowerment organization."

Hogben and Karpierz were co-leaders of Siena's Best Buddies chapter, and through their friendship each found out the other was connected to AOET. Karpierz originally got involved through family members and took her first service trip five years ago. This time, the pair got to serve together.

"Words truly cannot describe how amazing this experience was, how much love I was shown, and how much I got to learn," said Hogben. "One of the biggest lessons that I learned and continues to be reinforced in my life is that different isn't wrong. Whether that's how we present ourselves, how we look, how we work, or how we live, different doesn't mean wrong. There is so much to learn about the Ugandan lifestyle that I think people from all over the world can adopt and that is just one way of becoming culturally competent."

Karpierz, who will begin nursing school this fall and was able to get some basic clinical experience on the trip, said it was a privilege to get to know the young people in Uganda.

"They are so smart, so sincere, and they work so hard," she said. "They were very welcoming and trusting, and it was a joy to mentor them. The feeling that you have working there and meeting the people is hard to put into words. I could never do it justice describing it - you almost have to be there in person to feel how special it is."

One interesting story: through funding they were able to purchase a "butterfly wand," which is portable ultrasound device that can be connected to an iPad. They examined a woman who came to the clinic in her 32nd week of pregnancy for her first prenatal appointment. They discovered that not only was she carrying twins, but that they were both in breech position. They were able to recommended that she give birth in a hospital rather than at home, thereby potentially saving three lives.

Hogben and Karpierz both recalled the sketchy access to power, the limited water resources and the unpaved roads, in addition to the poverty. Those on service trips do their best to alleviate the problems caused by this lack of resources, and work with other agencies to create a brighter picture for the future.

"It reminds us how blessed we are," said Karpierz. "They make do with so little."

Dr. Cirenza was motivated to make a difference from the first time he stepped on the Siena campus as a freshman in 1986.

"For the first time in my life my eyes were opened to the Franciscan principle of service to others and it excited me," he said.

With medical school, starting a pediatric medical practice in the Saratoga area and raising a young family, extensive service was a logistical challenge but he said he did what he could to help others. Back in 2011 he met the AOET organizers who led trips of volunteers from the Saratoga area; he took his first trip to Uganda the following year.

"It was my eureka moment."

Dr. Cirenza leads teams of his own each year now, helping to develop an immunization program, child wellness care, and integrate the mobile ultrasound unit that has transformed prenatal care in the area.

"I am inspired by the gratitude of the people we serve, the beautiful smiles and energy of the children and the dedication the clinic staff has to service," he said. "I will never walk away from this service. It is now a part of me."

Hill, who leads a Saratoga-based marketing firm, noted the deep religious faith of the Ugandans.

"Their trust in God is incredible and very inspiring," said Hill, who was on his first service trip. "They pray to God for the resources they receive, as they literally have no idea where necessities will come from. It's rewarding to see donations and our efforts making a difference. The people in Bugembe are now better nourished and have access to better medicine and hygiene. It's such a small amount in today's world but it means so much."