At CorrHealth, supporting our team members goes beyond the workplace. It means encouraging the passions, causes, and missions that matter deeply to them, especially when those efforts are focused on serving others and making a meaningful impact in communities around the world.
Earlier this year, Ashley Rodriguez, BSN, RN, Travel Nurse Supervisor, traveled to Iquitos, Peru, to participate in a healthcare mission trip focused on bringing medical care, support, and faith-based outreach to underserved communities in the Amazon region. CorrHealth was honored to support Ashley and her team through donated supplies, including travel power banks, shirts, wound care materials, pens, snacks, and other essential items used throughout the trip.
For Ashley, this Healthcare Mission Trip was far more than travel. It was an opportunity to live out a calling rooted in service, compassion, and healthcare outreach.
A Mission Rooted in Service
Ashley participated in the mission trip from March 19 through March 29, 2026. The trip was coordinated by Jason Swartz with Just1Global and Elmer Apagueno with Amazon Healthcare Missions. Their goal was to work alongside local leaders to provide healthcare services, children’s ministry, and faith-based support to communities surrounding Iquitos, Peru.
Before speaking about the experience itself, Ashley wanted to express gratitude.
“First, I want to start off by saying thank you to CorrHealth for allowing me to participate in this mission trip to Iquitos, Peru,” Ashley shared. “I am very grateful to work for a company that supports employees volunteering to serve abroad through missions.”
The communities Ashley and her team visited were located outside the city of Iquitos, often requiring one- to two-hour commutes by bus, tuk-tuk, or boat. Many villages consisted of small, stilted homes built near the water, adapting to changing river levels during “high” and “low” seasons.
The environment itself presented challenges. The heat and humidity were intense, and many residents, including children, walked barefoot or in sandals through wet vegetation. Access to healthcare was limited, especially for elderly individuals and families living deep within the Amazon region.
For Ashley, the experience was deeply humbling.
“No windows, no air conditioning, and steel roofs above,” she recalled. “It humbled me enough to appreciate a fan.”
Delivering Care in the Amazon
Each day began early. After breakfast, the team would travel into the villages where they operated clinics or conducted home visits similar to home healthcare visits in the United States. From approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the team focused on providing health assessments, treatment, education, prayer, and support to local families.
Ashley’s role on the Healthcare Mission Trip extended beyond patient care. She also served as a mentor to students attending Colorado Christian University, many of whom were studying nursing or pre-med and participating in their very first mission trip.
Students gained hands-on experience collecting vital signs, performing basic assessments, and observing nursing interventions. Pre-med students shadowed the physician while patients with abnormal findings, such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, or concerning symptoms, were referred for additional evaluation.
For Ashley, mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals became one of the most meaningful aspects of the trip.
“As the nurse mentor of the group, it was humbling to see all the students perform basic vital signs and assessments on their own,” she shared. “Each day, they exhibited more confidence than they did on day one.”
That growth reinforced something Ashley already believed deeply: healthcare is not only about treating patients, but also about investing in future caregivers and leaders.
Addressing Critical Healthcare Needs
Throughout the trip, Ashley and the team encountered a wide range of healthcare concerns.
For children, the focus was largely on preventative care. The team distributed multivitamins, anti-parasitic medications, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and rehydration packs. For adults, common concerns included hypertension, undiagnosed hyperglycemia, joint pain, glaucoma, acid reflux, and seasonal allergies.
Ashley noted that many elderly individuals would have greatly benefited from ambulatory aids, such as canes or walkers, given the difficult terrain they navigated daily.
One of the greatest challenges was time.
“I pray we have time to visit with all who have come to seek health services,” Ashley shared. “That was my prayer before every clinic or home visit.”
Although the team was able to serve the majority of those seeking care, some individuals could not be seen due to time constraints and limited supplies. In many cases, residents waited months or even years for nonprofit medical teams to visit their villages.
The experience reinforced just how different healthcare access can be in remote areas of the world.
“We are definitely blessed here in America to have an abundance of access to various types of healthcare,” Ashley explained. “I definitely feel that we take what we have here for granted.”
A Community Built on Gratitude
Despite the challenges many families faced, Ashley was deeply impacted by the warmth and gratitude shown by the Peruvian communities.
Villages welcomed the team with local music and songs. Children eagerly participated in ministry activities that included worship, games, and gifts. Families expressed appreciation not only for the healthcare services provided but also for the team’s presence.
“There were many ‘thank yous’ and ‘please come back soon,’” Ashley recalled.
Language barriers occasionally created funny and memorable moments. While Ashley knew some Spanish, medical assessments often involved a mix of phrases, gestures, and pointing to body systems, with translators helping bridge communication gaps.
“The Peruvian people were kind, welcoming, and grateful,” Ashley said. “Most had a deep faith in God, which blessed me tremendously.”
CorrHealth’s Support Along the Way
One of the most meaningful parts of the experience for Ashley was knowing she had the support of CorrHealth behind her.
“It means the world to me that Todd Murphy, our CEO, was swift to want to assist in this trip,” she said. “He supported my calling to take my nursing gifts abroad to serve vulnerable communities.”
CorrHealth donated travel power banks, shirts, wound care supplies, snacks, pens, and other resources used throughout the Healthcare Mission Trip. The power banks became especially useful during long days away from electrical outlets, helping the team keep phones charged for translation tools, communication, and documenting important moments.
Some donated shirts were given to women in the villages as a way to recognize and encourage the “super moms” within their communities. Other shirts were worn by the medical team to represent CorrHealth’s support for healthcare missions and service abroad.
Ashley emphasized that the donated supplies were quickly and gratefully received by families in need.
A Lasting Impact
For Ashley, this trip reinforced her purpose and strengthened the way she approaches both leadership and healthcare.
“My trip strengthened my leadership skills toward my team,” she explained. “I lead with confidence and also empower my team to be leaders as well.”
This was Ashley’s third mission trip, following previous healthcare missions in Belize and Jamaica. Yet Peru became one of the most impactful experiences of her life.
“My goal is to reach every continent to provide healthcare to communities who lack access to care,” she shared.
At CorrHealth, we are incredibly proud to support team members like Ashley who carry compassion beyond the workplace and into communities across the globe. Her Healthcare Mission Trip to Peru reflects the heart of service, generosity, and purpose that continues to define our organization and the people within it.