Guatemala Medical Spring Break Program

If you have a passion for healthcare, look no further; as this spring Dr. Hickey is leading his annual excursion to Latin America! This year's destination is rural Guatemala, with the program being based in Panajachel, on Lake Atitlan. This is an incredibly powerful way to join other medically-driven Capstone Scholars as you gain hands-on patient experience, help support an under-served community, and experience other cultures in a way that service-learning can only provide.

About the Program

Duration: March 5 - March 13, 2022
Course listing: UNIV 290 - "International Healthcare: Service Learning in Guatemala"
Course credit: 1 hour, elective
This will be a spring course in which you will meet as a class once a week (Wednesday 10:50 -11:40 a.m.)
Program Leaders: Dr. Patrick Hickey with student leaders Amanda Dearborn and Gabby Gee

Highlights

Hands-on experience (collecting healthcare histories, obtaining vital signs, performing diagnostics, dispensing medications, etc.)
Evening classes (medical Spanish, tropical diseases, suturing/wound closure, medications, etc.)
Opportunities to adventure in Guatemala, including a zip-lining, a boat tour, hiking, or simply shipping and enjoying the local culture.

Costs

Program fee: $1800 (includes all meals, excursions, in-country transportation, lodging, guides, training seminars, presentations and lectures).
Other costs: Round trip airfare (~$800-$1,000), medical and travel insurance (~$70), Study Abroad Office application fee ($150), 1 credit hour of tuition, passport and personal spending.

Information Sessions

These are a great chance to meet Dr. Hickey, learn about the application process and more of what to expect from the program. Please visit our calendar to view upcoming sessions for this coming fall semester. Attendance is not mandatory in order to apply!

Application

The application is live and will close on October 24 at noon.
Apply now »

Staff Spotlight

Dr. Hickey has led service-learning medical mission programs to Latin America for over 10 years with the Capstone Scholars Program. Although he recently retired from his Faculty Principal position in 2020, he could not stay away from continuing to provide this opportunity to Capstone Scholar students! Come meet and hear from Dr. Hickey through the available information sessions for more details!

Student Leaders – Guatemala

Gabby and Amanda, Capstone Fellows seniors, are thrilled to be the student leaders for the medical mission trip to Guatemala 2022. They came away from their last trip feeling both humbled and exhilarated by how much of a difference can be made by providing accessible healthcare to people who need it. They can’t wait to share this experience with students and continue to build the Capstone legacy!