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Over a century of Penn collaboration between Guatemala and Penn

The Guatemala-Penn relationship is rooted in over a century of research, service, and scholarship; evolving to meet the needs of Guatemalan stakeholders and the mission of the University of Pennsylvania. Since 2005, the Guatemala Health Initiative (GHI) has addressed health issues in the Western Highlands through community health interventions. Working with Guatemalan NGOs and municipalities, GHI implements public health projects and trains students in community health.

Partnering with Asociación K'aslimaal and the Hospitalito Atitlan

Penn's partnership with Asociación K'aslimaal and the Hospitalito Atitlán supports providing clinical services to the indigenous Tz'utujil Maya population of the Western Highlands, with contributions from Penn's physicians, nurses, and students, as well as from Guatemalan universities. This collaboration includes global health training and educational exchange programs and Continuing Medical Education courses covering community health, applied research skills, medical spanish and terminology, the Guatemalan healthcare system, and the cultural context of health among Guatemalan Mayans.

Working to improve health and development

GHI focuses improving health through collaborative action based research and program development. Through quality improvement collaborations and clinical volunteering trips, the GHI partnership has changed the practice of medicine in Santiago, nationally in Guatemala, and even across Central America. Recognizing the epidemic levels of diabetes and non-communicable diseases, a Hospoitalito program supported by the World Diabetes Foundation was launched to enhance diabetes care. This program is now a national program. It's success has grown additional programs in hypertension, reproductive health, and nutrition education. GHI volunteers have collaboratively identified and initiated other initiatives including:

• Antibiotic resistance
• Asthma, COPD, and indoor air pollution
• Dermatology and skin disorders
• Endocrinology brigades
• Healthcare system design and strategic planning 
• Injury, violence, and physical trauma
• Liver Disease
• Mental health
• Seizures, stroke, and other neurological conditions
• Skilled birth attendant training
• Stroke, Epilepsy, and Neurological conditions
• Water and sanitation

Academic and Institutional Partnerships in the Americas and globally

GHI works to build bridges between Penn and academic and institutional partners throughout the Americas.

In Guatemala, GHI partners with partners with Universidad de Rafael Landívar, Universidad Francisco Marroquin, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, and Universidad del Valle.  We offer master's programs in clinical epidemiology and public/global health, historically supported by NIH training grants, fostering education and research both at Penn and in Guatemala. We facilitate clinical rotations with Guatemalan partners in numerous disciplines and specialties including dentistry, engineering, medicine, nursing, and physical and occupational therapy.

"Community Health is the practice of public health where the locus of ownership and control, the governing authority, remains solely within the community"

Finally, GHI collaborates to train independent teams in understanding and practicing global community health. In the US, students from other universities, religious organizations, and schools are invited to start their own chapters of the Guatemala Health Initiative. Penn's GHI has worked with students from UCSF, University of Minnesota, and Drexel University. Additionally, we have worked with groups to develop programs in Ecuador, Panama, and Malawi. Contact us today to initiate a partnership.