Ucayali River near Pucallpa Peru
This is a photo of Benjamin Chun, taken on March 16, 2025, in Yarinacocha, Peru, on the Ucayali River near Pucallpa. The Ucayali River, one of the main tributaries of the Amazon, flows through eastern Peru and supports rich biodiversity, including pink river dolphins and manatees. It is vital to the city of Pucallpa, which sits along its banks and relies on the river for transportation, commerce, fishing, and daily life. As a key link between the Amazonian interior and the rest of Peru, the Ucayali serves as both an economic lifeline and a cultural cornerstone for the region. Benjamin was in Peru as part of the 2025 SAU Medical Mission Trip, and this photo was taken on the Sunday before a week of clinics began. Throughout the week, the team served the people of Pucallpa by providing family medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, ultrasound, dental, and vision care. This experience deepened Benjamin’s commitment to compassionate service and reinforced his calling to use medicine as a tool for meaningful impact in underserved communities.
Updated Mar 25, 2025 by Ben Thornton