Uraccan University sign on building

Culturally Competent Doctors

During a medical mission trip to Nicaragua in 2013, I was struck by the poverty and lack of access to medical resources in Nicaragua.

Nicaragua is the 2nd poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The average yearly income for a Nicaraguan is only 1,950 US dollars per year.   In outlying clinics, there was no running water and no labs available.

When I asked for a pregnancy test for a young woman who I thought might be pregnant, I was told by the local nurse, “you just feel” as no test was available. In the Continue reading “Culturally Competent Doctors” →

In Her Own Words…

First of all, everyone receives a cordial greeting. I hope you are all in perfect health. 

I am Jessica Ruiz Taylor, I am 19 years old, and I am a student of the 5th semester (year 3) of the Intercultural Medicine Career. I am originally from the City of Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas. I come from a poor but hardworking family, I have 9 siblings, I am one of the youngest. I have two excellent parents who struggle to bring us food home every day, who have instilled in me great values and that today I try to put them into practice to become in a great professional in the health area. 

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Hello from Nicaragua

I was born in a small village in Nicaragua just along the border of Honduras. Named Catherine Elizabeth Levy Wilson, everyone calls me Kathy. I was the second of five children, two of whom were born with disabilities and are the angels of our family. With them, our family learned to accept and love others just as they are.

My great grandfather on the Wilson side of the family was a Moravian pastor who dedicated his life to serving God and the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean coast. The son of this pastor and my great grandmother became the first bishop of the Moravian Province Nicaragua-Honduras-Costa Rica. Their grandson became the second bishop. He is my mother’s brother. Religion and service have always been a strong part of our family.

Kathy with her sister, Dr. Florence

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The Wind Was Wild

 

It started about 10:00 on the night of November 16. The wind roared as the strongest bands of hurricane Iota barreled across the city where Adelante Mujer students attend medical school in Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. It was the second devastating hurricane to slam their “university town” in two weeks. Together hurricane Eta and Iota caused $743 million in damages. Continue reading “The Wind Was Wild” →

Alumni

Why Only Women?

Our goal is to support women who are striving to become medical doctors. Why only women? How did that focus come about?

 

The program began when a Sister of St. Agnes in Bluefields, Nicaragua told Sister Ann about a young woman who helped with the housecleaning.  Sister Lael said the woman who was very bright wanted to go to college to become a teacher but did not have the money.  When Sister Ann heard that it would cost about $300-$400 for a semester of college, Sister Continue reading “Why Only Women?” →

Shoulder Tap

Shoulder Taps

We have all heard the expression: Every once in a while God taps us on the shoulder. Nearly every minute of every day I hear things chiming, beeping, ringing, flashing, or clicking. Texts, emails, phone calls, ads, billboards, neon lights, and alerts all fight for my attention. How can I possibly notice a little tap? Continue reading “Shoulder Taps” →

christmas

Feliz Navidad – Merry Christmas – Krismis Yamni

Esther
As I sit here in the Managua Airport awaiting my flight from the balmy tropics of Nicaragua to the freezing blasts of another Wisconsin winter, I have time to reflect on our recent interviews with our current students from medical school in Puerto Cabezas as well as the candidates, young women who, despite living in one of the most impoverished regions in the world, refuse to give up on their dream of bringing medical help to those who, like themselves, have had to survive with little or nothing.

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