Gaining More Than Experience
What I learned on my journey to Vietnam taught me more than any classroom could
By: Sukumar Paidi, Mercer ’28
Ever since I arrived at Mercer University, I had heard about the opportunity to travel to Vietnam. It was one of the university’s most popular study abroad programs because it focused on fitting prosthetics for patients who needed them most. I applied hoping to gain clinical experience that would complement what I learned as a biomedical engineering student. Looking back, the program delivered far more than clinical experience; it strengthened my work ethic and helped me grow in confidence and communication.
During my time in Vietnam, our group of about thirty students fitted prosthetics for just under a thousand patients with above-knee or below-knee amputations. Mercer University’s biomedical faculty developed the Mercer Universal Prosthesis (MUP), a low-cost prosthetic that can be fitted to a wide range of patients. The fitting process required us to choose the correct socket, which is the interface that meets the skin; modify the pylon, the metal pipe that connects the socket to the foot; attach an artificial foot; and make adjustments as each patient learned to walk with the prosthetic.
Early in the trip, I struggled with self-doubt. I had a persistent fear that I was going to make a mistake or fail to provide the level of care each patient deserved. As the clinic progressed, however, I grew more comfortable with the process and the environment. What began as apprehension turned into genuine fulfillment when I successfully fitted a prosthetic onto a patient.
I also had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Vo, one of our faculty advisors. He not only helped with MUP research, but he is also renowned throughout Vietnam for assisting patients with orthopedic problems. During our time abroad, Dr. Vo assigned each student to a different part of the clinic, including intake, prosthetics, and orthopedics. Students assigned to orthopedics helped him by conducting preliminary evaluations before he examined each patient, gave a definitive diagnosis, and provided treatment. His speed and skill were amazing. He was a huge inspiration to everyone in the program, and we were fortunate that he was able to accompany us.
As a member of Phi Delta Theta, I found that my college experience helped me adapt during this trip. I joined the Fraternity as a sophomore after spending an entire year unaffiliated. During my freshman year, my friend group consisted almost entirely of people in my major and demographic, which isolated me from the broader university community. Joining Phi Delt broke me out of that bubble and introduced me to brothers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Being in this Fraternity also taught me that there is much more to life than work and education, and the experiences we share often matter most. Friendship is one of the core principles of our brotherhood. Throughout this trip, my Fraternity brother Sriniketh Edupuganti, ’28, and I made an effort to spend time with the broader group so we wouldn’t get burnt out because of the work we were doing. Those shared moments brought us much closer together as a team. Overall, this was an amazing journey, and I hope many other people from my chapter have the chance to experience it.
Sukumar is a junior at Mercer University (Georgia Gamma) majoring with a biomedical engineering degree, and is pre-med. After completing his programs, he sees himself at a medical university studying orthopedics or emergency medicine. He chose Phi Delta Theta to surround himself with people with diverse backgrounds and cultures.
