Summer 2004

Family Medicine Connects Hoosierland to Honduras

Nearly 1,800 miles separate Indianapolis from Honduras, but IUSM physicians with Honduran physicians and their government are working to bridge that distance through a new program established by the Department of Family Medicine.

The International Medicine Honduras Project forges a partnership between the School and with the Honduran government and physicians in that Central American country. This will become an elective for participating students and an opportunity for residents and faculty to broaden their education and experience. Leading the effort is Javier F. Sevilla Martir, MD, assistant professor of clinical family medicine.

“It’s very rewarding to participate and serve the people of Honduras and help develop programs designed to improve medical education and clinical services,” says Dr. Sevilla, who completed medical school and much of his training in his native Honduras.

“Out overall goal is to improve the quality of life for the underserved populations in rural areas,” adds Dr. Gaylen M. Kelton, MD, associate professor of clinical family medicine.
Only a fortunate few of Honduras’ six million people have access to health care of any kind. Most cannot afford doctors, medications and transportation to medical facilities. And the health problems are many, particularly among children and the elderly. Diarrhea, respiratory tract infections and malnutrition are common among people in the countryside; residents in cities are more prone to suffer from debilitating chronic diseases.

Dr. Sevilla led a six-member team to Honduras late last spring, which included faculty, residents and students, the latter of whom have since earned their medical degrees. For two of the students, it was a four-week experience. Their work began in remote mountain sites in central Honduras. Simple cinder-block homes and gathering places served as clinics. Students then were assigned to another rural clinic and a small community hospital, gaining experience is specialty areas such as obstetrics and gynecology, general pediatrics, general surgery and tropical medicine.

Family Medicine delegations have traveled to Honduras on other occasions. Late last fall Department Chair Doug McKeag, MD, MS, signed an agreement with Honduran Surgeon General Carlos Vargas, MD, formally establishing the partnership. The Department also will help develop a family medicine residency program and establish that specialty as a core study area for Honduran medical students..