Guatemala Service Learning

Overview:  The Guatemala Service Learning experience is a unique, multiprofessional opportunity to provide mentored direct patient care to communities around San Lucas Tolimán, which is located near Lake Atitlán in southwestern Guatemala. For more than a decade, UW-Madison SMPH students and faculty have traveled to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, to work in satellite clinics around the southern/eastern areas near Lake Atitlán. We partner with a local non-governmental organization (NGO), the Mission of San Lucas Toliman, to provide medical care to the communities around San Lucas in close collaboration with local health promoters.
A typical day for our group consists of organizing supplies for the day, traveling to a clinic site, and holding clinic in the morning and afternoon. While at the clinics, the students work in groups to assess patients and present them to the UW providers for evaluation and treatment.
Weekends are usually free for sightseeing or other activities. Students also have an opportunity to learn about other initiatives supported by the Mission including construction projects, educational initiatives, coffee-making, and the Women’s Center.

Logistics: The group (if there is enough interest, we will have two trips) will be comprised of 10-12 medical students and 4-5 providers (faculty and residents). Other healthcare students including nursing, pharmacy and PT students may also join. Spanish proficiency is beneficial but not required, we will have full-time interpreters for all patient interactions.

Cost: Each student is responsible for covering their own expenses, including travel to Guatemala and weekly food and lodging costs of approximately $975 ($75 per day for 13 days), provided by the San Lucas Mission, in addition to a $500 trip fee. The total estimated cost is approximately $2,300.

Dates:
Saturday, May 16 – Saturday, May 30, 2026 (first trip)
Saturday, July 25 – Saturday, August 8, 2026 (second trip)

Orientation: A series of orientation sessions are conducted prior to each trip to familiarize students about the San Lucas community, the Mission, ongoing projects, and physical exam and history-taking skills. Participation in these sessions is mandatory for joining the program in Guatemala. There will also be required online orientation materials found on Canvas.

Coordination: While faculty will help to coordinate some logistics with the Mission, the success of this experience depends on the students who will be participating. Students are responsible for any needed fundraising, purchasing of medications and other clinic supplies, and coordination within the UW group. Faculty are available to provide guidance to student leaders.

Academics: Upon completion of the field experience, students will receive a 1-credit independent study (699) through the Emergency Medicine Department. Students must be in good academic standing in order to participate in this program.
This program can be used to fulfill requirements for the Path of Distinction in Public Health and/or the Graduate/Professional Certificate in Global Health Online with additional scholarly work beyond the basic program requirements. Graduate/Professional Global Health Certificate students must enroll in PUBHLTH 714, a 2-credit pre-requisite online course that is offered in the spring semester.  Students can enroll following their acceptance to the service learning trip.

Faculty:
Emergency Medicine: Colleen Andrews, MD, MPH; Jessica Schmidt, MD; Kevin Wyne, PA-C
Family Medicine: Sean Duffy, MD
Pharmacy: Karen Kopacek, RPh
Physical Therapy: Jeff Hartman, PT, DPT, MPH

Application (Link)

Deadline: January 15, 2026