Final reflections – Medicine in El Alto – Child rights in Bolivia

A few nights ago Nitin, Rachel and I all reflected on the most unique parts of Bolivia that we observed and will take away from this experience. Rachel talked of the familiarity and warmth that perfect strangers freely give. Nitin spoke of the preservation of the vibrant culture, one aspect of which is notable in…

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Gender Inequality in Bolivia – Hospital de la Mujer

Working at the Hospital de la Mujer this week has brought up many questions for me about gender equality, identity, and practice in this country and all of the ways these aspects affect health. I have now had the incredible opportunity to hear from many different perspectives on this topic and wanted to share what…

Reflections – Medicine in a low income country

The burden of disease in the city of La Paz has overwhelmed me this week. At times I have felt almost swallowed by the immense need and health inequity of this community. I have been reflecting on the book “Reimagining Global Health” by Paul Farmer, Jim Yong Kim, Arthur Kleinman and Matthew Basilico and wanted…

Salar de Uyuni – Oncology/Hematology – Neonatology

I have been in Bolivia now for over 2 weeks and it feels like I have lived here for months. It’s incredible how the body and mind adapt so quickly to different surroundings. Learning about Bolivia’s culture and worldview from our experiences in the hospital and traveling on the weekends has been a priceless experience…

Copacabana – Isla del Sol – Infectologia – Bienvenido Rachel

This past weekend Nitin and I traveled by bus to Copacabana, a small town on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Getting out of the city and breathing the fresh air of the country side was a welcomed change to the congested city of La Paz. The striking beauty of Bolivia is truly impossible to capture…

Hospital del niño

Tuesday was our first day at Hospital del niño which opened its doors in 1972 and is the largest pediatric teaching hospital in Bolivia. The hospital is full of children and every ward is brightly decorated with large windows to let as much sunlight in as possible. We had the opportunity to tour through every…

Primeras Impresiones en La Paz

I arrived to La Paz, Bolivia in the middle of the night and was greeted by the warmest driver and attendant possible. As we drove down into the city I was struck by the steep decline, the frigid air and tall trees casting eerie shadows along the treacherous mountain road. The city was alive even…