A brief, largely from my GoFundMe Page:
Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to visit my Blog! This tripย 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,ย but medical care outside the city is limited. Guatemalaโs public hospitals frequently experience serious shortages of basic medicines and equipment." -U.S. Department of State
About Me
ย ย ย My name is Roger Lin and I am aย 19 year-old, 3rd year pre-medical studentย studying Biochemistry with aย burningย desire to change the way public health is viewed and administered! I believe that the successful delivery of healthcareย requiresย greatย understanding of the cultureof the people you are helping, as too often money is wasted through inefficient, poorly-adapted programs.
ย ย ย I have spent the lastย 4 years, since I moved here from Asia,volunteeringย extensivelyย in hospices, soup kitchens, hospitals, respite care homes, dog adoptions, etc. in Maryland, andย I now wantย to take my skill set far beyond the American borders to the underprivileged of Central America!
About My Trip
ย ย ย 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 aย whoppingย 56.2% of it's population being below the poverty line,ย quality healthcare in Xela is minimal at best.ย Further, indigenous populations are constantly discriminated against in every sector of welfare, essentiallyย condemningย them to poverty.
Myย Purpose
ย ย ย This summerย I am spending 3 weeks with 'A Broader View' inย Xela, Guatemalaย seekingย to understand the medical culture and setbacks that the ruralย Guatemalanย people face.ย I will be assisting doctors and nurses with non-invasive procedures and patient consultations, interviewing local Guatemalans to getย unfilteredย opinions on local healthcare, and immersing myself in Guatemalanย culture.
Find out what's happening in Lutherville-Timoniumfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
ย ย ย -------Working full-time in a clinic with few resources, this trip will likely be a great culture shock, but if you would please consider supporting me and my trip, I want to use the knowledge and experienceย I will gain to build my understanding inย healthcare and become aย truly worldly and compassionate doctor for the underprivileged around the world---Again, thank youย so muchย for taking the time to read about my medical mission!
Sincerely,
Roger
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ย ย ย 100% of theย moneyย raised through GoFundMeย will first go to pay for the 3-week program fee of $1195.00, the flight cost of ~$600, the 5% GoFundMe service fee, and the 2.9%+0.30c/donation PayPal fee!
ย ย ย 100% of anyย extra moneyย raised will be used towards getting much needed supplies for the hospital I will be at!
