Medicine in the Mountains of Xela!

Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to visit my GoFundMe page! This trip marks a major turning point in my life and means so much to me!

"The full range of medical care is available in Guatemala City, but medical care outside the city is limited. Guatemala’s public hospitals frequently experience serious shortages of basic medicines and equipment." -U.S. Department of State

About Me
     My name is Roger Lin and I am a 19 year-old, 3rd year pre-medical student studying Biochemistry with a burning desire to change the way public health is viewed and administered! I believe that the successful delivery of healthcare requires great understanding of the culture of the people you are helping, as too often money is wasted through inefficient, poorly-adapted programs.
     I have spent the last 4 years, since I moved here from Asia, volunteering extensively in hospices, soup kitchens, hospitals, respite care homes, dog adoptions, etc. in Maryland, and I now want to take my skill set far beyond the American borders to the underprivileged of Central America!



About My Trip
     At an elevation of 2,230m, Xela is Guatemala's 2nd largest city with a largely indigenous population of ~225,000 people. Due to the city's clearly rural location and a whopping 56.2% of it's population being below the poverty line, quality healthcare in Xela is minimal at best. Further, indigenous populations are constantly discriminated against in every sector of welfare, essentially condemning them to poverty.



My Purpose
     This summer I am spending 3 weeks with 'A Broader View' in Xela, Guatemala seeking to understand the medical culture and setbacks that the rural Guatemalan people face. I will be assisting doctors and nurses with non-invasive procedures and patient consultations, interviewing local Guatemalans to get unfiltered opinions on local healthcare, and immersing myself in Guatemalan culture.

     Working full-time in a clinic with few resources, this trip will likely be a great culture shock, but if you would please support me and my trip, I want to use the knowledge and experience I will gain to build my understanding in healthcare and become a truly worldly and compassionate doctor for the underprivileged around the world---Again, thank you so much for taking the time to read about my medical mission!
Roger

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     100% of the money raised here will first go to pay for the 3-week program fee of $1195.00!
     100% of any extra money raised will be used towards getting much needed supplies for the hospital I will be at!