Pendleton County, West Virginia is the third poorest county in the United States and is still recovering from a devastating flood a few decades ago. Throughout this trip I was bombarded with the inequalities of health services in Pendleton County depending on an individual’s geographical location. I became aware of inaccurate stereotypes that were associated with certain diseases that affected the entire livelihood of individuals infected. It was difficult to see the disparities in infrastructure, health services, and education in our country that is considered to be a highly developed nation. When deciding what service trip to attend, I wanted an experience that would provide the opportunity for me to understand the different aspects of society that contribute to creating health disparities in a community. I decided to travel to Pendleton because I believe there are important health disparities in the United States that have been forgotten because of the vast inequalities worldwide. By meeting and speaking with community leaders, our goal was to better understand the needs of the county. My desire is to have this initial experience be developed into a longer relationship ultimately serving this rural community.
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