Erik Dike, a rising senior nursing student at Belmont Abbey College, carries a patient onboard a hospital ship in Madagascar during a two-week program with Mercy Ships. / Credit: Joshua Kiew Wing Chau
CNA Staff, Sep 11, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
ThreenursingstudentsfromaCatholicliberalartsschoolinNorthCarolinaspenttwoweeksonahospitalshipinMadagascarthissummer.
EmmaHarris,whowillgraduatefromBelmontAbbeyCollegeinCharlotteinMay2026,joinedfellowstudentsCarolineGutierrezandEricDikeonaservice-orientedinternshipinMadagascarwithaninternationalfaith-basedgroupcalledMercyShips.AfterreturningtotheU.S.,Harrissaidshewas“transformed.”
MercyShipsoperatesthetwolargestnongovernmentalhospitalshipsworldwide,deliveringfreesurgeriesandhealthcareservices“tothosewithlittleaccesstosafemedicalcare,”accordingtotheorganization.ThethreeBelmontstudents,alongwithtwootherstudents,wereselectedtomakeupthefirst-evercohortofTheMercyship,thehospitalship’ssummerinternshipprogram.
HarrisjoinedMercyShipsbecauseshewantedtofollowJesus’example.
“BeingonMerc
