Elective for Healthcare and Public Health Students and Providers

The 32 Volcanes Elective for Healthcare and Public Health Students and Providers welcomes pre-med students, medical students, providers, public health professionals, nurses, and other healthcare practitioners in the Service Learning Program. The Service Learning Program centers its work on cultural belonging and relevance, allowing service learners to learn about and provide public health interventions as well as clinical care in our clinic in Xela, mobile chronic patient clinic, and mobile Nutrition Program brigades in rural communities. We strongly encourage all Medical Elective service learners to begin on the first Monday of the month, if possible.

Your course of study, interests, and professional level will determine your clinical and public health experience in Guatemala:

• Shadow the doctor and/or provide primary care consults (depending on professional level and Spanish level)

• Develop educational workshops and materials to promote healthy behaviors, including workshops on WASH and menstrual health and hygiene, etc. for patients with chronic illnesses and for mothers/caregivers in the Nutrition Program

• Join and support the logistics of the mobile clinic, Nutrition Program meetings in three rural communities, and menstrual justice activities (Red Tent)

• Assist in the pharmacy (sorting medications, organizing, etc.)

• Assist in weighing and measuring children in the Nutrition Program meetings

• Help distribute food and supplements during the Nutrition Program meetings

• Field work in the agroecology programs includes: visits to vegetable and medicinal plant gardens, biodigesters, mushroom modules, water purifiers, and reforestation for monitoring and data collection, etc.

• Assist with community workshops and scientific activities (presentations and conferences)