Week Eleven in Lima

Ian's final days with MEDLIFE before embarking on a Yampu Tours adventure across Peru's most captivating landscapes.

From Freshman to Leader

Ian arrived at the University of Vermont as a freshman with a simple curiosity about global health. That summer, his first MEDLIFE brigade to Cusco, Peru changed everything. He returned to campus transformed, and over the next three years, rose from member to Vice President to President of his chapter. Now, as a MEDLIFE Volunteer Affairs Intern based in Lima, he mentors two students, Keshon and Kiki, while volunteering on the pediatric floor at UVM Medical Center and leading MEDVIDA, his local chapter. His Biology major and Community & International Development minor converge in this work: connecting medical access with sustainable community development in the places that shaped him.

MEDLIFE Leadership

Week 11 in the Field
Ian's final days leading volunteers and connecting with communities across Peru.

Leading Reflections

Leading Reflections

Ian connects with volunteers from across the US and beyond, sharing why they came to serve and what comes next.

Teeth Brushing Station

Teeth Brushing Station

At his favorite clinic station, Ian teaches children preventative care while making glove balloons for the nervous ones.

Community Celebration

Community Celebration

Volunteers and locals dance together after inaugurating two staircases and a house MEDLIFE completed that week.

From First Steps to Final Days

Looking back from Week 11, Ian can see the arc of his entire summer with MEDLIFE. From that first weekly video to this final summary, he's grown from a volunteer learning the work to a mentor leading reflections and connecting with people from across the globe. The teeth brushing station became his favorite—not for the drama, but for the prevention. Teaching children to care for their teeth is the kind of quiet, foundational work that changes lives years down the road. His last day in the field ended with an inauguration: two staircases and a house completed by MEDLIFE, celebrated with the community and volunteers dancing together. That's the work. That's why he came. And now, sponsored by Yampu Tours, he's ready for his final week in Peru—a food and bike tour, then Lake Titicaca's waters and the Andes rising beyond.

Ian's Journey

From freshman volunteer to chapter president—a commitment to global health and community.

  • Mentor to Keshon and Kiki

  • President of MEDVIDA chapter

  • Outdoor enthusiast: hiking, snowboarding, camping

From Freshman to Intern: Ian's MEDLIFE Journey

Ian first joined MEDLIFE as a freshman at the University of Vermont, drawn by the chance to connect medicine with community. That summer, his first brigade to Cusco, Peru changed everything. By sophomore year, he'd become Vice President and Brigades Officer for his chapter. A second brigade to Esmeraldas, Ecuador opened the door to his current internship in Lima—the one that brought him here, to this moment, leading clinics and mentoring volunteers. Now, as chapter president, his goal is clear: connect his Biology major and Community & International Development minor through sustainable projects that bring medical access to vulnerable communities. This week marks the bridge between that work and his final adventure with Yampu.

Give Back Initiative

Join a Sponsored Volunteer Experience

Learn More