Posting Delays Expected

Today we had a briefing here in San Diego before embarking on our trip, and I just learned that there will likely be some delays in our ability to blog from the ship. Bandwidth is reportedly slow at times, but more detrimental is that we will need to get our photos and text "approved" for content before public dissemination. So here is an apology in advance, but we will do our best to keep on top of things.

In the mean time, we are frantically trying to tie up loose ends and get ready for our bit trip. From spring cleaning, to residency applications, we are trying our best to knock off some things on the To Do list before we depart.

Pre-Mercy Itinerary

LAX 22:30 PM AUG 1 NZ5
AUK 06:15 AM AUG 3 NZ5

AUG 3, SUN:
-- Airbus to Downtown Ferry bldg, Fullers ferry (depart Pier 2, Ferry Terminal, 99 Quay Street) to Waiheke Island (Arrive Matiatia Wharf). Hourly starting 7am.
-- Oneroa Beach at top of Goodwin Ave; 5 min walk (HeKerua Rd #11).
-- Sleep HeKerua Lodge
-- Wine city bus: Saratoga, Te Motu, Stonyridge, Topknot Wineries. See map for locations.

AUG 4, MON:
-- Take Ferry Back to Auckland
-- Stay Base Auckland Central Backpackers Hostel (229 Queen Street, Level 3)
-- 192m on Sky Tower

AUK 07:15 AM AUG 5 NZ171
CRN 10:55 AM AUG 5 NZ171

AUG 5, TUE:
-- Taxi to Hostel: Cairns City Backpackers Hostel (274 Draper St)
-- Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, massive pool shape of Queensland w/ fountains

AUG 6, WED:
-- Depart for GBR @ 8AM pickup, stay 2 day 1 night, Scuba/Snorkel x7 dives.
-- 9.00am 90 minute transfer to Outer Barrier Reef with 2 dives
-- 2:30 OceanQuest transfer and travel with afternoon dive and night dive, sleep on boat

AUG 7, THUR:
-- 3x dives b/w breakfast and lunch, Depart outer reef @ 3pm, Return @ 5PM
-- Cairns City Backpackers Hostel again. Taxi to airport.

The Voyage Mercy: Trip Description

Pete Bluvas, Nicholas Kanaan, and Ryan Yoon will be representing UCSD Medical School during the United States Pacific Partnership 2008 aboard the USNS MERCY (T-AH 19)—a 900 foot oil-tanker converted 1,000 bed hospital. This partnership will be staffed by the coordinated efforts of multiple organizations (U.S. Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, and Public Health Service; Armed Forces of the Philippines, Australia, Canada, and Japan; Regional Health Officials and Local Health Care Providers, Operation Smile, and 13 local NGOs—of which UCSD is one). This collaborative will be providing humanitarian aid in the form of surgical, medical, dental, & ophthalmological care, as well as provide onshore building & infrastructure support, improve foreign relations & diplomacy throughout the South Pacific. This will be carried out in the following destinations: Cotobato, Samar, Manila (Philippians), Nha Trang (Vietnam), Singapore, Dili (East Timor), Darwin (Australia), Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Chuuk (Micronesia), Guam, Pearl Harbor, & San Diego (USA).

As fourth year medical students, they will be taking care of patients and helping achieve mission goals in the South Pacific during their leg of the journey (August 1st to September 19th), beginning in Papua New Guinea, through Micronesia, Guam and Pearl Harbor. As part of their participation, they are hoping to establish long-term relationships with the USNS Mercy and participating NGO’s to carve the way for future UCSD medical students to participate in upcoming humanitarian missions. Furthermore, the three participants will be keeping daily journals which will be uploaded when available at sea to an online blog to share experiences, express opinions, initiate discussion, and keep connection to UCSD medical students, faculty, and staff.

As participants, they hope to gain exposure to international and humanitarian health care delivery, better understand medical problems and management in the third world, and learn about new cultures. Being on a multidisciplinary care team as well as working with military personnel, they will gain insight and expertise in complex health care operations.