Building surgical capacity in Guatemala

One patient had a basketball-sized mass on her hip removed. Another had painful bilateral hernias fixed. The Emory Global Perioperative Alliance provides essential surgical care to patients in underresourced regions of Guatemala. It’s currently building surgical capacity in the state of Huehuetenango. “The peace of mind that comes from people learning what their condition is, getting it fixed, and gaining support is such an incredible thing,” says MD/PhD student Dani Farchi, who is Guatemalan and helped establish the project with Helps International.  “That we’re working in my country, with my people, is fulfilling beyond words.”  Henry Biermann, a fourth-year medical student and trip lead, says, “Being welcomed by the community, learning with them, creates lasting bridges.” Physicians Steven Roser, David Elwood and Barbara Pettitt are faculty advisors. Medical students Savanah Rumbika and Ambika Menon also served as trip leads. “It was a joy and the largest thing either of us has ever put together,” Menon says. “It gave me a lot of confidence going into the next phase of medical training.”

Photos provided by Helps International.