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Guatemala SI
2024 Guatemala Summer Institute
Program Dates: June 2, 2024 - August 4, 2024
Training in Quetzaltenango (Xela): June 3 - 29
Hospital Placements: June 30 - August 1
Final Conference: August 2 - 4
Download the application packet for more details!
Apply by October 31 to automatically get $1,000 off tuition!
Join EWH in Guatemala in 2024! During the Guatemala Summer Institute, you'll receive intensive, hands-on technical training before volunteering as a biomedical equipment technician in a low-resource hospital or clinic. Assist with critical medical device repairs, preventative maintenance, hospital staff equipment training, and other engineering services while making a difference for patients in need.
For the first month, the whole group will stay in Quetzaltenango, taking tailored courses in both Spanish and biomedical instrumentation. Our in-country partner, Do Guatemala, arranges accommodation and Spanish lessons, while EWH provides instruction on common medical devices and methods for troubleshooting and making repairs in low-resource settings.
After training, you'll begin working at an EWH partner hospital in a group of 2-4. EWH partner hospitals are public hospitals; some of the public hospitals in Guatemala have some form of technical assistance, however, gaps in training and language barriers often prevent effective equipment repair. You'll work closely with Guatemalan technicians and medical staff in overcoming these hurdles.
Participants typically stay with homestay families or rental properties during the second month. Some placements are in urban areas, while some are more rural, and there is usually little to no English spoken in public hospitals.
Want to know more? Check out our past program reports and FAQ Pages!
