A Glance of Medical Director’s Visit to the Headquarters in the U.S.
Baltimore, Maryland: Dr. Francis Guevara, Medical Director of The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic in Nicaragua, recently spent 2 weeks visiting the Clinic’s headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. While there, she met vital members of the Clinic’s team, visited an outpatient surgery clinic and was able to experience the excitement of Washington D.C. When asked about her overall trip Dr. Guevarra answered, “I enjoyed being involved in a different kind of lifestyle and culture. I hope this isn’t my last visit to the U.S.”
Taking advantage of her time at the Clinic’s headquarters, Dr. Guevara met with the Executive Director, Juan Muñoz, and the Chair of the Board of Directors, Julia Guth, to discuss the success of the Clinic and plan for the future.
She was pleasantly surprised with an opportunity to observe 2 surgeries at the SurgCenter in Silver Spring, MD. This experience, coordinated by the Clinic’s intern Rebecca Harter, proved to be a valuable experience for her. She was able to observe Dr. Howard Osterman, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, and Dr. D. Kevin Lurie, General and Vascular Surgeon. “They were both very friendly and explained everything they were doing so that I could get as much out of the experience as possible. I was also able to translate between a surgeon and one of his Hispanic patients.” Dr. Guevara was interested to see the differences in the modern quality and amount of surgical equipment used in the U.S. in comparison to what she is accustomed to in Nicaragua.
The Peri-Operative nurses also proved to be a highlight of her time at the SurgCenter. Lisa Cohen, Katie Parish, and Angie Etienne were welcoming and eager to answer Dr. Guevara’s questions about ambulatory surgery in the United States. Likewise, the staff of the clinic were interested to find out more about The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic’s patients and its healthcare Volunteer Program.
In addition to the work that was accomplished, Dr. Guevara also found time to relax and enjoy her vacation. She saw well-known highlights of D.C., including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and the Smithsonian Museum. She was treated to a Hip Hop dance festival at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and experienced the beauty of the famous cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Prior to her return to Nicaragua, Dr. Guevara remarked “Washington D.C. is a beautiful city and the people I met were so friendly and they made me feel comfortable. I loved my vacation so much.”