Medical Experience in Guatemala for High School Students

Last summer, I traveled to Xela, Guatemala with Global Public Service Academies. I lived with a host family, two other GPSA participants, and two Duke students. We attended Spanish and culture classes in the morning and worked in a clinic (mostly taking glucose and blood pressure measurements) or volunteered at local schools (giving health lessons in Spanish) in the afternoon. We provided hands-on health care to 603 patients. I became close with everyone, improved my Spanish, and experienced a short but meaningful immersion in another culture. I would highly recommend this program!

I went to GPSA During the summer of my junior year in high school. Before going I knew that I was in some medicine but did not know how I would interact in a clinical setting. While in Ecu during the summer of my junior year in high school. Before going I knew that I was interested medicine but did not know how I would interact in a clinical setting. While in Guatemala, I met the most amazing people and had a wonderful experience. The Spanish lessons offered at the school in Xela helped improve my Spanish speaking ability is far beyond what I could learn in school. Overall I think this program is very well organized and well run and I think that anybody interested medicine should take this opportunity.