8 yanktonmedicalclinic.com By David Withrow, MD, FAAP, pediatrician, Yankton Medical Clinic Earlier this year, I had the privilege of joining a medical mission to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala—a town of roughly 30,000 residents nestled on the stunning shores of Lake Atitlán, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. Our team traveled through the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine in partnership with Friends of San Lucas, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the educational, economic and health care needs of the region through grassroots, community-driven service. Our group included 17 medical students, one undergraduate student and four physicians: Dan Megard, MD, a recently retired internist from Yankton Medical Clinic (YMC); Ashley Briggs, MD, an OB-GYN; Sherri Bostwick, MD, family medicine; and me, a pediatrician at YMC. We were the clinic, the pharmacy and the support team—all rolled into one. What we did each day Health care access in rural Guatemala is incredibly limited. Many residents may never see a physician in their lifetime, though the government has done an impressive job of vaccinating children through national programs. Our mission operated mobile clinics in five different communities over five days—ranging from small towns to remote jungle villages. Friends of San Lucas organized everything on the ground, from logistics to bringing patients to each site. Each morning, we arrived with only the basics: folding tables, plastic chairs and medical supplies. Gyms, schools and community centers became makeshift clinics. Some patients arrived hours early and waited patiently all day to be seen. Our team set up seven stations. One for registration and vitals, another as a pharmacy (expertly managed by Dr. Megard and the students), and five tables where pairs of medical students took patient histories and conducted basic physicals. Each student presented their findings to one of us attending physicians. We had no imaging, and lab testing was limited to urinalysis and finger sticks for glucose. As the pediatrician, I focused on children, while my colleagues cared for adults, expectant mothers and women’s health needs. Despite the limited resources, our team worked tirelessly—and joyfully. Between clinic days, we had opportunities to experience Guatemalan culture. We visited a local women’s center, where we learned to make traditional corn tortillas—an activity I’d love to replicate with my family. Some students hiked a volcano, and we all took a boat across Lake Atitlán to explore a local artisan village. Bittersweet memories One of the most memorable days was in a small, impoverished village accessible only by a gravel road. We were met with endless smiles and curious children. As we set up, dozens of kids swarmed the area—many not there for care, HEALING BEYOND BORDERS A pediatrician’s journey to Guatemala
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