Guatemala Interfaith Medical Service Project

In 2019 Padre Sergio Godoy, a Guatemalan priest, reached out to Regis University with a request to help start a primary healthcare clinic in the community he founded, Ciudad de la Esperanza, a school and community center built next to the local landfill outside of Coban, Guatemala.

Here, over 2,000 families – many from marginalized indigenous Maya communities – provide a living by sorting through refuse to find recyclable materials. Amidst this, a school and community center flourishes, educating more than 450 children from kindergarten through high school.

In March 2020, Regis University sent its very first medical team to Ciudad de la Esperanza. Since then, we’ve made it an annual mission. This team is made up of 10 volunteer medical professionals, led by Dr. Lauri Pramuk, RC ’93, a Regis alumna and pediatrician and 10-12 pre-professional healthcare students from Regis – including aspiring doctors, nurses, dentists and therapists. They roll up their sleeves, get to work and, most importantly, learn – all while providing much-needed care to the community.

The students immerse themselves in the culture, studying medical ethics, primary care and triage all year long before they even set foot in Guatemala. They fundraise for their travel, and every year, they raise enough funds to supply the clinic with vital pharmaceuticals and support a local pediatrician who works year-round, making sure the community has access to health care long after the team leaves.

One powerful African proverb reminds us, "You bend the tree while it is young," Dr. Pramuk believes that these immersive experiences at such a pivotal stage in young healthcare professionals' lives will inspire them to serve marginalized communities for the rest of their careers.

Logan Taylor, RC '23, a recent graduate and alumna of the program, now in graduate school to become a physician assistant, beautifully summed up her experience: “This trip showed me the power of kindness, unconditional love and selflessness. No act of genuine compassion can ever be too small. The impact of this amazing team will last for generations, and I am so proud to have been a part of it.”

By donating to the Guatemala Interfaith Medical Service Program, you are helping plant the seeds of lifelong compassion and service in future healthcare professionals and bringing hope to communities that need it most.