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MSUCOM Students Spend Spring Break in Mexico at Angel Notion Clinic
They were joined by several graduate students of the MSU Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) curriculum group. “I knew Dr. Prokop had been going to the clinic every year, and I really wanted to participate so I asked him to let me come along,” said second-year student Nicole Szell, president of AHMA. Under Dr. Prokop’s supervision, Nicole and other MSUCOM students used osteopathic manipulative medicine as well as acupuncture on many patients with musculoskeletal issues.
Since many patients were known to suffer from muscle spasticity -- a disorder of the central nervous system in which muscles continually tighten and contract – Dr. Prokop introduced a therapy to the clinic staff using phenol injections to treat these patients. Phenol is a highly effective for spasticity and costs pennies in the United States, making it an ideal treatment for this region. “One patient came into the clinic and could not flex or plant his foot. However after a phenol injection, the patient could move it almost instantly. He became very emotional with amazement and joy,” said Nicole. “Another patient was brought in by his mother. The patient had many neurological problems, but it was discovered later that meningitis had caused them. This patient had full range of motion so there was no need for phenol. Instead, we used a form of physical therapy called riding therapy, which involves having the patient ride a horse. We also gave the boy a new wheelchair. The boy’s mother said, ‘Thank you for dedicating your lives to something so wonderful,’ which made me very emotional and proud that I was there to help,” said Nicole.
In addition to their medical expertise, the group brought some other gifts as well. Thanks to MSUCOM’s Simple Gifts program and other donors, they were able to bring around 2,000 toothbrushes to give to the children to promote better hygiene. “The kids were extremely excited to receive the toothbrushes. Their faces lit up when we handed them out,” said Nicole. “I was humbled by this experience. The patients we saw in Mexico were grateful for whatever type of care they where given,” Nicole said. During the last evening in Playa del Carmen an agreement was signed between the city and MSU setting up a formal relationship for work at the clinic in the future. The partnership was followed by a celebration and hopes of more wonderful work to come.
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Spring break is a time for travel and leisure for many. But for a group of
MSUCOM students from the American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA), it
was a time to help Dr. Lawrence Prokop, associate professor for the Department
of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. They went to Mexico, but they saw
the Mexico most vacationers don’t see. They spent their time at
Angel Notion, a medical clinic serving indigent people in Playa del Carmen. 
