Sara L. Bollinger, left, Global Health Scholars in Medicine coordinator, and Basia H. Najarro, division administrator, both in the Department of Medicine, with the ambulance donated this past December to InCan, a cancer hospital in Guatemala City.
Students and faculty from the Washington University medical and Danforth campuses recently joined forces for a good cause — donating an ambulance for cancer patients in Guatemala. The vehicle will transport patients and their familes to and from InCan, a cancer hospital located in Guatemala City, the country's capital.
Fully stocked with supplies and equipment, the ambulance was a joint project of internal medicine residents, the university’s Engineers Without Borders program, and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Local automobile dealership Suntrup Ford also played a key role, donating about $12,000 in mechanical services.
The effort was sponsored by the School of Medicine's Global Health Scholars in Medicine program. Begun in 2007, the program expands global health education and research opportunities for resident physicians, provides mentors and role models, and creates sustainable partnerships with global partners to improve care for the underserved. The program also increases residents’ awareness of global health systems, enhances understanding of the impact of culture and poverty on population health, and fosters skills for providing care in resource-poor environments.
