Amber Rosser volunteering on a medical team in the Dominican Republic.

By Amy Loeffler

The only tropical flora most people encounter in a doctor’s waiting room is a fake plastic flower. But for aspiring medical student and animal and poultry sciences major Amber Rosser, her waiting room this spring was just as much medical unit as it was tropical garden.

That’s because the Lynchburg, Va., native took her scrubs to the verdant Dominican Republic to prepare for a career in health care and gain experience working with patients as part of a medical team. Rosser received travel assistance from the John “Buster” Beier Memorial Excellence Fund — a fund established by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization and friends and family of 1974 graduate John Beier — that provides resources for experiential learning by students.

Rosser trekked to the Caribbean with other students and staff from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. She treated patients at mobile clinics and educated them about disease prevention and good hygiene practices during the week she spent on the island nation.

Until last year, she had only journeyed outside of the country once, and that was to Honduras — also on a medical mission trip.

“These experiences have reinforced my desire to spend the rest of my life doing for others,” said Rosser, who graduated in May. “I cannot wait until I am able to serve as the attending physician on multiple mission trips.”

Another goal Rosser has set for herself? To improve her Spanish.

It’s apparent through Rosser’s volunteer spirit, however, that “gracias” and “de nada” are words she already knows well.

Did you take a judging team trip? Present your research at a conference? Study abroad? Wish you had? Help provide the same opportunities for today’s students by supporting the CALS Dean’s Fund for Excellence. Contact the Development Office to learn how today! www.cals.vt.edu/giving | 800-533-1144