Centro Medico Humberto Parra in Bolivia

Volunteers associated with Feinberg School of Medicine may apply to offer their services for a two-week or longer rotation at the outpatient clinic located in Palacios, Bolivia, about 90 kilometers from Santa Cruz. Participants may join in with students and residents who are serving on four-week rotations and exposed to an environment that lacks the technical advances they may be accustomed to in the U.S. and will develop skills and knowledge on infectious diseases not generally encountered in the U.S. Rotations may also be made at the municipal hospital and another nearby clinic in Santa Cruz. A high level of Spanish fluency is required. The free clinic serves an area of approximately 40,000 people and has two regular examination rooms, an infirmary/treatment room, one classroom, dental suite, lab and ophthalmology room. The clinic is staffed by two full-time nurses, one clinical director and a lab technician, as well as rotating doctors, specialists and dentists. The case load at the clinic varies and can include some urgent care, chronic disease management, treatment for tropical diseases and case referrals. In the past, students have engaged in wide variety of public health research projects and have participated in health outreach trips in the surrounding area.

For more information on this partnership, see the Centro Medico Humberto Parra page in the Education section or visit this affiliate's volunteer page.

Quick Facts

• When: 12 months per year, depending on host clinic schedule of visiting clinicians
• Where: Centro Medico Humberto Parra in Palacios, Bolivia
• Affiliated Faculty: Mark Molitch, MD