August 2025
WHAT: Health Outreach for Latin America annual trip (HOLA) in partnership with volunteers from the University of Denver and the University of Georgia.
WHEN: Aug 2, 2025 – Aug 9, 2025
WHERE: Nicaragua: The city of Granada and various sectors in and around the northwestern city of Leon.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
For students to gain clinical experience, and a greater understanding of healthcare systems in the developing world, through the shadowing of Nicaraguan doctors.
To fund and participate in various veterinary activities, including a spay/neuter clinic and the shadowing of Nicaraguan veterinarians.
SUMMARY:
Students shadowed HOLA sponsored OBGYNs in the communities of La Leona and Chacraseca. Students also shadowed a general doctor at a private clinic in Chacraseca and a pulmonologist in Leon. Students were able to monitor patient vital signs, fetal heart tones and assist on other basic procedures.
Facilitated by the NGO, FNE International, HOLA volunteers visited with a number of children suffering from severe and chronic diseases. This work will provide the groundwork for an expanded partnership between HOLA and FNE designed to provide greater support to these patients and others like them.
Students participated in a spay and wellness clinic in Granada, funding and assisting on spay / neuters for over 50 animals. Students were also able to shadow in a private veterinary clinic in Leon, observing and assisting on multiple surgeries. In tandem with Nicaraguan vets, across three full days, our volunteers team provided vaccinations, vitamin shots and parasite treatments to over 450 working animals in Miramar.
August 2024
WHAT: Health Outreach for Latin America annual trip (HOLA) in partnership with volunteers from the University of Denver and the University of Maryland.
WHEN: Aug 17, 2024 – Aug 24, 2024
WHERE: Nicaragua: The city of Granada and various sectors in and around the northwestern city of Leon.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
For students to gain clinical experience, and a greater understanding of healthcare systems in the developing world, through the shadowing of Nicaraguan doctors.
Conduct needs-based assessments that will inform the expansion of HOLA’s OB/GYN program.
To fund and participate in various veterinary activities, including a spay/neuter clinic and the shadowing of Nicaraguan veterinarians.
SUMMARY:
Students shadowed General Doctors, OBGYNs at at six different clinics, assisting with vital signs, fetal heart tones and other basic procedures. Students were also able to shadow surgeons in a local operating theatre, observing c-sections, tubal ligations and appendectomies among other procedures.
HOLA also funded a medical fair rural in the community of Miramar, which was attended by 118 patients. This was run in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MINSA) ensuring all attending patients could receive follow-up care from MINSA doctors and be referred on to specialists as needed. MINSA also brought their portable medical truck allowing for ultrasounds to be taken and dental work provided.
Students received additional medical training and lectures from Dr. Alicia Scribner, a Seattle based OBGYN attending the trip.
Students participated in a spay and wellness clinic in Granada, funding and assisting on spay / neuters for 62 animals. In tandem with Nicaraguan vets, our volunteers also provided vaccinations, vitamin shots and parasite treatments to over 352 working animals in Miramar.
August 2023
WHAT: Health Outreach for Latin America annual trip (HOLA) in partnership with volunteers from the University of Denver and the University of Georgia.
WHEN: Aug 21, 2023 – Aug 26, 2023
WHERE: Nicaragua: The community of Villa del Carmen on the country’s west coast and various sectors in and around the northwestern city of Leon.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
For students to gain clinical experience, and a greater understanding of healthcare systems in the developing world, through the shadowing of Nicaraguan doctors.
Conduct needs-based assessments that will inform the expansion of HOLA’s OB/GYN program.
To fund and participate in various veterinary activities, including a spay/neuter clinic and the shadowing of Nicaraguan veterinarians.
SUMMARY:
Students shadowed General Doctors, OBGYNs and a dentist at six different clinics, assisting with vital signs, fetal heart tones and other basic procedures. Students were also able to shadow surgeons in a local operating theatre, observing c-sections, tubal ligations and appendectomies among other procedures.
Students received additional medical training and lectures from Dr. Travis Barlock - a Denver based Emergency Medicine physician - attending the trip.
Students participated in a spay and wellness clinic in Villa Carmen, funding and assisting on spay / neuters for 49 animals. In tandem with Nicaraguan vets, our volunteers also provided vaccinations, vitamin shots and parasite treatments to over 133 working animals in the rural community of Miramar.
March 2023
WHAT: Health Outreach for Latin America annual trip (HOLA) in partnership with volunteers from the University of Denver.
WHEN: March 11, 2023 – March 19, 2023
WHERE: Nicaragua: The community of Villa del Carmen on the country’s west coast and various sectors in and around the northwestern city of Leon.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
For students to gain clinical experience, and a greater understanding of healthcare systems in the developing world, through the shadowing of Nicaraguan doctors.
Conduct needs-based assessments that will inform the expansion of HOLA’s OB/GYN program.
To fund and participate in various veterinary activities, including a spay/neuter clinic and the shadowing of Nicaraguan veterinarians.
SUMMARY:
Students shadowed General Doctors, OBGYNs at six different clinics, assisting with vital signs, fetal heart tones and other basic procedures. Students were also able to shadow surgeons in a local operating theatre, observing c-sections, tubal ligations and appendectomies among other procedures.
Students received additional medical training and lectures from Nic Garcia DO - a HOLA board physician - attending the trip.
In tandem with Nicaraguan vets, our volunteers also provided vaccinations, vitamin shots and parasite treatments to over 125 working animals in the rural community of Miramar.
August 2022
WHAT: Health Outreach for Latin America (HOLA) annual trip in partnership with volunteers from the University of Denver.
WHEN: HOLA Summer Volunteer Trip, Aug 20, 2022 – Aug 27, 2022
WHERE: Nicaragua: The community of Villa Guadalupe on the outskirts of Managua and various sectors in and around the northwestern city of Leon.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
For students to gain clinical experience, and a greater understanding of healthcare systems in the developing world, through the shadowing of Nicaraguan doctors.
Conduct needs-based assessments that will inform the expansion of HOLA’s OB/GYN program and the creation of a new program designed to lower unintended teen pregnancy counts.
To fund and participate in various veterinary activities, including a spay and wellness clinic and the shadowing of Nicaraguan veterinarians.
SUMMARY:
Students shadowed General Doctors and OB/GYNs at nine different clinics, assisting with vital signs, fetal heart tones and other basic procedures. Students were also able to shadow surgeons in a local operating theatre, observing c-sections, tubal ligations and appendectomies among other procedures.
Student-led research identified the communities of Santa Ana, Ante Nor and Miramar as areas that would most benefit from the hiring of a local OB/GYN.
Students participated in a spay and wellness clinic in Villa Guadalupe, funding and assisting on the treatment of 398 animals. In tandem with Nicaraguan vets, our volunteers also provided vaccinations and vitamin shots to over 200 working animals across ten farms in the rural communities surrounding Leon.