Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Students and Faculty Expand Access to Health Care in Rural Guatemala
Friday, Jan 03, 2025
Led by faculty members Drs. Nancy Harris and Debra Hain, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing students who participated in a study abroad trip in November 2024 conducted health screenings in remote areas of Guatemala where access to medical care is severely limited.
They treated residents in Santa Maria de Jesus, Sacatepéquez, and Los Magueyes, San Martin tin Jilotepeque, rural areas of the country.
A total of 211 patients in the general clinic and 58 patients in the women’s clinic were screened, including one treated for cervical cancer, which remains the number one killer of women of maternal age in Guatemala. During each trip to the country, nursing students provide cervical cancer screenings and other treatments.
The study abroad program is a partnership with Nursing Heart, Inc., (NHI) a nurses-led community health organization providing care to rural and indigenous populations of Guatemala.
“The College of Nursing has collaborated with Nursing Heart for over a decade,” said Dr. Harris, adding that the health organization is founded on the belief that all people deserve access to dignified health care and that every family in Guatemala has the right to receive preventive care from medical professionals who treat them with empathy, compassion and kindness.
“These weeklong immersive experiences offer invaluable clinical learning for our students while fostering a deeper understanding of holistic care for immigrant communities — a truly transformative process,” noted Dr. Harris.
As the students prepare to transition into professional roles, they bring with them a heightened sense of cultural sensitivity, an enhanced ability to deliver patient-centered care, and a broader awareness of global health issues, health disparities and the need for advocacy.
"I am honored to work with our students in Guatemala,” Dr. Harris remarked. “Every team demonstrates compassion, dedication, and an overwhelming desire to give back to their patients, reflecting the values of our college and our profession."
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing team will return to Guatemala from February 15 to 22, 2025, with 12 students and two faculty members continuing their work providing health care to underserved communities.
The Guatemala study abroad program is featured on page 7 in the January issue of South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report.