Vida Medical, Dental & Veterinary Programs in Guatemala

This was an amazing experience to see where people lived and how they lived. One of my favorite things was when we went house to house looking for animals to treat, just seeing the people living there and how appreciative they were was such an amazing feeling. Also, being able to interact with the community was incredible because even though we couldn’t understand each other, we were able to connect through the animal. Another big part of this trip was the staff, they were all amazing and really took the time to get to know us, and guide us.

One thing I never thought about was how kind the staff were and how much fun it was to explore the cities and meet the other students on the team. We felt like one giant friend group and got close so quickly, making the experience feel so much more comfortable and fun. It’s been a few days since my trip ended, and I miss everyone I met so much. We all opened up to each other about school, our personal lives, our families, and so on. I still haven’t stopped texting and calling my new friends. Additionally, of course, the trip was eye-opening in terms of noticing health disparities in the world and living with that reality. This trip makes you want to do anything you possibly can to help other people who don’t enjoy the same privileges as us. I was also inspired by the positive attitudes and joy embodied by most of my patients, even the ones in the most difficult of situations. Overall, so much is taken from this trip, more than I ever could’ve expected or paid for.

Juan Jose was a PHENOMENAL trip leader! 100/10 for him. Super supportive and easy to talk to, also professional at the same time. He taught us so much and will be missed. On the medical team, Dr. Mynor could not have been better. He lets you think for yourself, again is easy to talk to, is professional, and is there for you! It is tiring to do the case discussions after but again, Mynor is taking time out of his day to teach you and educate you more. I am Already planning another trip as we speak :) Barbara was a great translator too, so super friendly and nice!

Vida’s medical mission trip is an experience all students who are interested in the health field should go through. I’ve had plenty of medical and clinical experience, but Vida provides a unique experience that you can only get through Vida. I am a coordinator and although this was my first trip, I felt well prepared prior to the trip. The staff members go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable, prepared, and at home while on the trip. They are approachable, they care about your safety, and they truly want you to grow as a person and healthcare professional. The Vida staff has become like a second family to me. The feeling you have during and after this trip is indescribable and can only be understood once you go on the trip. The clinic days are productive and you truly feel the impact you make as the communities are so grateful. The recreational days allow you to rest and recharge, while immersing yourself a little more into the culture and surrounding cities. The host families treat you like their own family and is a great opportunity to learn and delve deep into the culture and communities you’re living and helping in. The team leaders are both the perfect mix of professional and personable. The lead doctor and healthcare professionals during the trip are more than willing to teach you and mentor you providing an opportunity most students won’t get until they’re in their respective programs. All in all, this experience can be defined as “wholesome, a great learning opportunity, and a chance to create another home/family away from home.”

This trip was a great way to be submersed into a new culture. As students we learned so much by being in on the action in clinic days. We not only got to experience a new style of healthcare, but got to experience an entire new way of life. I believe this trip is an amazing step in becoming a well rounded person by donating your time while still having a fun and educational time. In our trip we got to see over 300 patients, and this allowed us to get a wide variety of cases. The people were extremely kind, and it was great to spend time with them in their day to day lives. Also, the views and the food were absolutely delicious! I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world and believe that anyone with this opportunity should jump at it!

This trip was the best thing I have ever spent money on. Not only did I serve the underserved, Vida also made time for us to truly experience another culture. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever done, as cliche as it sounds. Healing people, diving into a new culture, exploring Guatemala, and experiencing it all through Vida. I felt very safe and well taken care of the entire trip. They had the best team leaders for us that made sure we were safe and happy throughout the whole trip. I will go on this trip every year that I possibly can, it was better than any other trip I have ever been on and I truly recommend it to anyone considering! I would recommend a reusable water bottle to bring on this trip and something to carry your passport around with you at all times.

I had an incredible experience with Vida Guatemala over New Years 2015-2016. The experience I gained at clinics was great. Volunteers work in pairs, and with an interpreter, and fill out a paper chart of the rural patient's current concerns and health history. Volunteers formulate the right questions to lead to a diagnosis, which is proposed to a local physician. The physicians all did a great job of educating the student volunteers on what other questions needed to be asked, signs and symptoms to check for, and where they went in the correct or incorrect directions when diagnosing the individual. Then, the physician asks questions to formulate the true diagnosis and the patient receives free medication or a referral to another external clinic. In this program setup I was able to see 10-12 patients/families per day, and learned a ton of medical knowledge. The clinics are well run, safe, and reputable. Being conducted in isolated areas means my participation in the program brought healthcare to those towns and had a true impact. Hearing of the poverty and health disparities was a great educational experience and impacted my future medical practice and goals significantly. This program helped solidify my career choice as a physician, and as an incoming medical student I am sure this knowledge will help me and my peers be more aware of global health situations.

Trips every few days were fun, there was a beautiful lake to see (Atitlan), accommodations were nice. Everything was safe, and we received appropriate amounts of guided excursions and free time. I always felt supported by the local staff, and was well supported prior to travel to the country.

Had an amazing time with my friends. Brought us together As a medical and surgical team. Improved my physical exam skills. Learned about a lot of diseases that we may not see commonly in a US veterinary clinic. Learned how to communicate in a language I was not familiar with Really opened my eyes to pet care in a third world country. Earned a grant from UW Wisconsin for our work in educating these children on how to take care of an animal. Wish I could have gained more surgical skills. I would love to go back in the future as a veterinarian, and Teacher. This won't let me leave a review unless it's 200 characters, which I find really really unfair. Because I have some good things to say about the program. Am I at 200 characters yet?