GUATEMALA - ATITLÁN REGION

Endoscopy at Hospitalito Atitlán

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.