University of Pennsylvania students have been in Santiago Atitlán all summer doing research in various areas of the community… with rescue workers, traditional midwives and healers, community health and more. This weekend, Dr. Kent Bream an ER physician and U Penn professor made a surprise visit. 
Dr. John Bell, an internal medicine resident from the University of Virginia has been at HA three weeks. He got a good laugh out of volunteer coordinator Rebeca Petzey, who had been preparing food for the going away party for several medical volunteers.
Construction Foreman Gaspar Mendoza talks with Dr. Juan Manuel Chuc and Karin Bergstresser after lunch. The workmen’s lunch table is positioned where the future OR table will be.
July 19th, the construction workers started at 5 AM to prepare the concrete to pour the roof over the ER and Labor and Delivery wing of the new hospital. It requires incredibly teamwork and is exciting to watch.
Because of the tremendous amount of work that a roof pour involves, traditionally food is provided for the workers, and today they requested “CEVICHE”, a shrimp cocktail that also includes crab and snails from the lake. Dr. Kevin Brogan, his wife Siobhan and son Cormac offered to help the women chop onions and tomatos. Dr. Kevin and his family are from Kilkenny Ireland. Siobhan and Cormac study Spanish while the doctor volunteers at HA.
Dr. José Vargas, a children’s orthopedic surgeon, his wife Dra. Nani, an OB, and their children José and Julieta are volunteering at HA the month of July. The family is from Getafe-Madrid España, where Dra. Sara Cruz is one of Nina’s students. In this picture, are José, Dra. Nani, Dr. José and 4th year medical student also from Madrid, Laura Rubio.
John Farmer and his wife Geneen from Tuscon Arizona are volunteering for five months. Geneen is a nurse, and John is teaching math to the nursing staff, solving computer problems, coaching soccer and MUCH more.
Locals are enjoying the new park and fountain on the public beach that was inaugurated last week.
July 9 at 1:15 PM, Andrea and Antonio became the proud parents of Diego Antonio Ramirez ”Tono” is the “bodeguero” at Hospitalito Atitlán, or in charge of Central Supply. This is their second child, a daughter Lolita, is two years old.
Ruth Humbert the Health Program Director for Health Ministries Assoc., provides medical care in rural areas outside Antigua Guatemala. She and Kathleen, a volunteer, brought a pick-up load of hospital donations today. The organization she works with receives many things that are better suited for the operating room, so she contacted HA for a visit. THANK YOU!
Dr. Judy Royer an ER physician from Ohio has been a long time friend and supporter of Hospitalito Atitlán and the local volunteer rescue company. Today, Judy arrived with three suitcases of urgently needed medicines and supplies requested by Rosalia and Antonio. Jimmy Hutchinson also brought donations, and Dr. Juan Manuel Chuc was happy to see the old friends and their generous donations.
Anesthesiologist Ken Bachenberg from the Bellingham WA Episcopal Church group took time to do some training with the HA staff. He also worked with Dr. Jaime in surgery.