GUATEMALA - ATITLÁN REGION

The Guatemala Endoscopy Program at Hospitalito Atitlán was started in 2016 when Drs. Bryan Sauer and Michael Dougherty met and discussed a shared interest in medical missions work in Central America. Dr. Dougherty had an established relationship with the hospital in Guatemala and spent six months as an internist at Hospitalito Atitlán.

 

In 2016, Drs. Sauer and Dougherty met in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala to perform a site visit of the Hospitalito Atitlán and evaluate the need for endoscopy services in the region. A year later, a formal endoscopy needs assessment was performed in the region of Guatemala and clarified the lack of endoscopy services and the significant need.

 

Between 2016 – 2018, Dr. Sauer submitted numerous applications and requests for donations of endoscopy equipment to a variety of companies. In 2018, through a partnership with Americares and Olympus, endoscopy equipment was donated to the Hospitalito Atitlán.

 

In 2018, Dr. Sauer and David Solano from Olympus set up the endoscopy equipment and in February 2019, the first endoscopy jornada took place.

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We have return on a regular basis with a team of medical professionals (including nurses, endoscopy techs, nurse anesthetists, resident and fellow physicians, gastroenterologists, and pediatric gastroenterologists). During our week long "jornada", we typically perform 45-50 endoscopy procedures (colonoscopy, upper endoscopy) and provide outpatient clinic consultations for gastrointestinal issues. 

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Jornada 1: February 2019

Jornada 2: November 2019

Jornada 3: June 2021

Jornada 4: April 2022

Jornada 5: September 2022

Jornada 6: February 2023

Jornada 7: July 2023

Jornada 8: November 2023

Jornada 9: February 2024

Jornada 10: June 2024

Jornada 11: November 2024

Jornada 12: February 2025