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Feinberg Spotlight
August 2007

Julia Chu, MD/MPH Class of 2007
Centro Medico Humberto Parra
Palacios, Bolivia

Faculty-affiliated clinic
January-April 2007
Internal Medicine/Primary Care/Obstetrics and Gynecology

What was the most positive characteristic of your time abroad?
Working with and developing good relationships with the not only the staff at the clinic, but community and patients as well. Since the clinic is located in the town of Palacios, it recruits many of its residents to help with the clinic; not to mention everyone in the community goes to the clinic themselves.

Describe who you worked with.
Our main contact in Bolivia is Dr. Douglas Villarroel, MD, who was wonderful. Although he was always super busy with his own private clinic in Santa Cruz, he never failed to help us when we needed it. Douglas set up the shadowing program at Galene, as well as put us in touch with the residents at Hospital Japones. If we need anything for the clinic (CMHP), such as special medications, referrals, money for studies (xrays, ultrasounds, etc.) and surgeries, he would take care of it. He has a wonderful staff at Galene that we called upon several times to help with patients in Palacios -- Tesoro, Carlos, Silvia, Susanna, Saundra, Lizette and Gabriela.

Douglas also invited us to be a part of his family. His wife is amazing -- talented, resourceful and great to talk to. She is a certified language teacher and speaks English, Portuguese, French and Spanish fluently. She gives Spanish lessons to all who ask. Douglas, Chemita and their three children: Daniel, Diego & Susan -- were our family. His house is around the corner from where we stay in Santa Cruz and when we spent our days in Santa Cruz, we were invited over to eat lunch with him and his family pretty much every day.

What medical-related or extra-curricular activities did you participate in beyond your rotation (e.g. volunteering, research, shadowing, workshops, etc.).
While I was there, I also tried to complete my MPH Culminating Experience project. I had created a survey examing the attitudes of birth spacing and contraceptive use among women in the rural communities. I got IRB approval prior to arriving in Bolivia. When I had time, I would ask women if they wanted to participate in a survey while they waited for their consultations.

What is the most important thing you will take away from this experience?
The wonderful people I met, the great memories, the sense of community and feeling welcome in a place that is not your usual home.

.....to read the full report, log onto Trip Evaluations