Brookfield chiropractor to give back on Fiji mission trip

Dr. Jason Schilder of Brookfield Chiropractic will join a team of 11 healthcare practitioners to provide free comprehensive healthcare to underprivileged adults and children in Madi, Fiji this summer.

The trip was organized by Peak Potential Outreach, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Ramneek Bhogal.

Giving back

Bhogal said his experience as a chiropractor and having done service work around the world in previous years inspired him and his wife to found an organization that could give back to those in need.

In the past 10 years, Bhogal and his wife have coordinated trips to serve the people of Haiti, Jamaica, Fiji, India and Morocco for other organizations, providing medical care and diet and nutrition education in poor or rural areas.

He felt it was time to start an organization of their own to do continue those efforts.

"We wanted to do something unique and use our niche as chiropractors," Bhogal said. "We wanted to launch an international scene where we could service with our own skill sets."

Peak Potential Outreach went on its first mission trip to Fiji in March 2012, serving more than 600 patients between 11 doctors within a week.

The doctors provided services such as physicals, blood pressure and glucose screenings, chiropractic care and adjustments and diet, wellness and nutrition education.

The team was a mix of doctors, some dentists, medical doctors, chiropractors, podiatrists and nurse practitioners, Bhogal said

"All of the lines that separate our work just disappeared when we started working together," Bhogal said. "None of that matters when you are working together for someone's well-being."

Bhogal said more than 35 doctors from across the country were interested in this year's trip, but there was only room for 11.

Schilder selected

Schilder's colleague went on last year's trip and after hearing about her experience, Schilder was added to an e-mail list of a pool of doctors to be selected to go this year.

"A few of the doctors who went last year were not able to go again, so I was fortunate enough to have been selected to fill one of the available slots," Schilder said.

Schilder had traveled to India as part of a similar mission trip in chiropractic school and was excited for the chance to help those in need once again.

"It's very humbling and rewarding," he said. "It makes you appreciate what you have here."

During last year's trip, Bhogal was able to help a 6-year-old boy who had dislocated his hip.

"I worked around the clock to get him some help," Bhogal said. "I found there was a hospital team that went to Fiji after us and I was able to connect him with an orthopedic surgeon."

Just last week, Bhogal said, the boy met with a surgeon and will undergo surgery at a hospital in Hawaii, free of charge.

"There's just something about giving yourself without expecting anything in return," Bhogal said. "It's very refreshing. I have three sons and I hope they carry this on."

This year's trip is scheduled for June 27-July 7.