Field Placement: The
Intercambio de Salud Honduras (Honduran Health Exchange) -- Clinica Medica Familiar
Location: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Preceptor: Dr. Juan Almendares Bonilla
Student Name: Kristin Yarris
Year: 2002
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Photo 3 | Photo 4 |
The Intercambio de Salud Honduras (Honduran Health Exchange) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Hondurans. The Intercambio is directed by Dr. Juan Almendares Bonilla, who was my preceptor and mentor during my 10-week field placement. The Intercambio operates as a collaboration of health-related projects. One of these is a small health clinic, the Clinica Medica Familiar, located in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. The Clinica offers free, comprehensive, alternative medical care (including consultations, health education, homeopathic medicine, and community medical brigades) to all those in need. Another related project is COHAPAZ, the Honduran Committee for Peace Action, a grassroots women's organization based in twenty-five marginalized communities in and around Tegucigalpa. The Intercambio is also affiliated with the group Madre Tierra, a national-level network of health professionals and medical students who conduct research, policy advocacy, and public awareness activities on the relationship between environmental conditions and health. Dr. Almendares is also the Director of CPTRT, the Center for Prevention and Treatment of Victims of Violence and Torture, which works with people in indigenous communities as well as in the national prison system who have been victimized by organized violence. The Intercambio regularly serves as a site for the placement of high school student volunteers and as part of my field placement I had the opportunity to supervise a group of 12 student volunteers who were working with the Intercambio. Finally, Dr. Almendares and many of his colleagues are members of the Honduras Bioethics Society, which sponsors educational activities related to ethical issues in health practice and research. As part of my field placement with the Intercambio de Salud Honduras, I collaborated with several of the projects mentioned above. Specifically, my work was focused in the following areas: 1) a cancer and a dengue research project with the group Madre Tierra, 2) an evaluation of the Clinica Medica Familiar and participation in other clinic activities, 3) a presentation to the Honduran Bioethics Society about the use of qualitative methods in health research and practice, 4) collaborating with project activities of COHAPAZ, and 5) supervising the student volunteers and helping design a national-level study of health risk behavior among youth. My work with the Intercambio was incredibly valuable both professionally and personally. I gained public health experience in an international context, I learned about the ways social conditions affect health in a country where the majority of households live in poverty, and most importantly I participated with groups of professionals, students, and community members working to address public health problems through research, community organizing, popular education, political advocacy, and direct service.
Back to CHS Field Studies Placement Index | Back to CHS Field Studies | Back to Field Studies Home