Ask a Musketeer: Maggie Elliott (Nursing, '24)

Jul 16, 2020

In the year since graduating from high school in 2019, Maggie Elliott, of Wauwatosa, Wis., has been to Ecuador, Perú, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Now she’s heading to Xavier University to study Nursing, inspired by the service work she did providing health care for children and families in the South American communities she visited.

“Two of the reasons I chose Xavier are because of its strong nursing program and the focus on community, which both played important parts in my time in South America,” Maggie said.

In Ecuador during the fall of 2019, Maggie worked with children to educate them about basic hygiene and how to stay healthy. By December, she was in Lima, Perú, where she did more hands-on health care in clinics, schools and markets, analyzing blood, testing for viruses like HIV and HPV, and giving flu vaccinations while shadowing the doctors and nurses. She tested people’s blood pressure and blood glucose levels, examined children’s teeth and applied fluoride, and recommended regular dental checkups. She enjoyed making sure each child got a toothbrush and toothpaste to take home.

At the end of January, Maggie traveled to Cusco, Perú, and helped on a construction project building a library and community space for the neighborhood. She left Perú just hours before the country closed its borders on March 16 because of the pandemic.

“My experiences in Ecuador and Perú gave me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, try new things, and learn about the culture, including the language,” she said. “I appreciate Xavier’s emphasis on service and the values in the community that revolve around sharing our time and talents with others.”

Feature Image: Maggie, third from left, and her colleagues in Peru.

Image Above: Maggie on Amantani Island in Lake Titicaca.

By France Sloat, Office of Marketing and Communications