Hospitalito Atitlán Blog

Dr. Juan Manuel Chuc is visiting the University of Pennsylvania this week and is participating in academic conferences as well as fund raising for Hospitalito Atitlán. Wednesday evening, he met many people interested in HA at a cocktail party hosted in the home of Dr. Brian Strom and his wife Lani. Bonnie O’Neill spoke at the event and everyone viewed the Hospitalito film. In this photo, Dr. Kent Bream, Dr. Juan Manuel Chuc and Dr. Nathan Smith sit a minute in the Quad.

Dr. Glen Dean a dentist from Grand Junction Colorado is a frequent visitor to HA.  He is taking advantage of the naming opportunities in the capital campaign by making a generous donation, pledged in payments over two years. He, his employees and other dentist will work in the Dr. Glen Dean Dental Clinic in the new hospital. Earlier this month, Francisco Sojuel, president of K’aslimaal, the Board of Directors of HA, presented Dr. Dean with a leather drawing in recognition of his gift.

September 15^th is Independence Day in Guatemala, a holiday filled with events. The school parade started at 9 AM in the soccer field… lots of drums, artwork, themes and flags. For the volunteers it was an opportunity to learn a little about Guatemalan history.

Tono wants everyone to see how his son is growing.

Three OB’s from Mt. Sinai’s Department of Obstetrics visited HA this week to see how they might work with HA, the traditional midwives and the Health Department in the future.  Dras. Tara Shirazain, Nicole Younglin, and Tamara Finger are involved in a program called Saving Mothers.

When there are pediatricians at HA, the children from the Panabaj school come in for a check-up. Today, Dra. Rebecca Taxier checked Leticia, a very smart child from a family with little means. It is great that we are able to monitor her health. 

Acupuncturist Christian Nix said goodbye to the staff and his faithful patients at HA today. Every week, he donated his services for one day a week for one year, and treated a long line of patient patients who were seeking care for insomnia, pain and more. He hopes to return to HA in the future, but is planning to work for money so he can return. Thank you Christian! 

Pediatrician Rebecca Taxier from Yale University is at HA for one month, and is keeping busy. ER Physician from New Castle England, Louise Kenny is volunteering for six months. They posed for this picture after discussing a difficult case with Dr. Chuc and before they went to the market to buy octopus for soup.