Global Health Institute Field Scholars

Enhancing Resources for Rehabilitation of Underserved People in Guatemala: Initiation of a Collaboration between the Emory University Division of Physical Therapy and the Rehabilitation Department at Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro in Antigua, Guatemala

Megan Brock, Division of Physical Therapy, Emory University School of Medicine, and MPH candidate at the Rollins School of Public Health

Ms. Brock, who is working toward joint public health and physical therapy degrees, worked with La Associacion Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro (Obras Sociales), an organization that provides free or very low-cost health care to people in Guatemala. The purpose of the field experience was to develop rehabilitative resources that will assist Obras Sociales in its work to provide comprehensive health services. The project specifically enhanced rehabilitation resources by developing patient education materials and a program that will use non-professional staff and volunteers to augment Obras Sociales' rehabilitation programs. The project's two primary objectives were: 1) to pilot the use of "Activity Notebooks" that communicate rehabilitation goals and provide instructions for individualized activities for residents to practice under the direction of volunteers and non-professional staff; and 2) to gather necessary information that will help Emory faculty and students assist the staff at Obras Sociales in providing culturally appropriate and evidence-based patient education materials for its outpatient physical therapy clinics.

To read about Ms. Brock's experience from her perspective, click here.

Megan with a pediatric patient in Guatemala.

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