CME MEDICAL MISSION TRIP – GUATEMALA
Next trip: January 4, 2027 – January 10, 2027
Dr. Michael Nowak & Certified Medical Educators is extremely proud to host a yearly week-long Medical Mission Trip that provides free medical care to the medically underserved in Jalapa, Guatemala. Over the years, we have taken hundreds of medically interested individuals to help provide acute and chronic medical care, mostly in the poor mountain villages. In 2021, we celebrated our 10-year anniversary trip and received a special humanitarian award from the Governor of Guatemala.
CME MEDICAL MISSION TRIP – DETAILS
Day 1 – Travel Day, after dinner in Jalapa, the team will organize equipment and medications for the week.
Days 2-5 – Each day we travel to a mountain village (aldea), group center, or small community hospital in the area of Jalapa, Guatemala to provide free medical care.
Day 6 – We travel to and relax in the beautiful tourist city of Antigua, Guatemala.
Day 7 – Travel Day back home.
FAQ #1: How many people do you take on a trip? Each year we take 15-20 interested individuals that includes various students, medical professionals, and non-medical individuals. As we are heavily involved with medical education, there are often students interested in medicine who come to gain direct patient care experience hours.
FAQ #2: Is this a good experience for non-medical individuals & students? Absolutely. Throughout the years, we have had many non-medical individuals & students attend and many these individuals have enjoyed it so much that they have returned on future trips. All team members will be able to assist in various roles and medical providers love to teach eager learners. We usually are able to evaluate and help nearly 500 patients in areas that have very little running water or electricity.
FAQ #3: How much does the trip cost? Our CME Medical Mission trip is extremely inexpensive at only $1,700 which includes daily: room & board and 3 meals a day in Jalapa, group transportation in Guatemala, translators in the clinics, one night hostel and dinner in Antigua on Saturday evening. Other organizations currently charge $3,000-$4,000 or more for this similar experience. A deposit of $300 is required and final payment is required November 15th prior to the trip. Airfare is not included in the fee and needs to be individually booked.
FAQ #4: Will everything I need to bring fit in my carry-on roller luggage and backpack? Yes, everything you need to bring will fit in your carry-on roller luggage and backpack. You will not need to pack much but we do recommend that you bring clothes for the week, phone charger, and a little bit of spending money for the touristy city of Antigua. Medical personnel should bring their stethoscope and otoscope.
FAQ #5: When do most people fly in and out of Guatemala? The airport we fly into Guatemala is GUA or La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. Flights should be arranged so you will be ready to board our transport vehicles at 3:00pm at the airport on Monday. Some people choose to fly in a few days earlier to explore great places like Antigua or Lake Atitlan on their own. At the end of the trip, most people will fly out of GUA on Sunday but again may choose to stay a little longer on their own. Your shuttle from Antigua back to GUA (La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City) is included no matter what day or time you are traveling back.
FAQ #6: Would Dr. Nowak bring his young daughter on the trip? Absolutely, and he has brought his 11-year-old daughter on the trip. This is a nice way of saying the trip is safe. We stay with an American family who moved from Texas ~25 years ago and has run an orphanage for battered women and children in Guatemala.
FAQ #7: How do I sign up to come on the next trip? Please sign up early by emailing us at CME@CertMedEd.com if you are interested in being part of this incredible experience.
Medical Mission Trip check list:
6 months before the trip:
Review your passport’s expiration date or obtain one if needed. Airfare is usually cheapest at this time and can be booked any time after trip deposit is confirmed. No special vaccinations are needed and only Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended if you do not have it.
3 months before the trip:
Book airfare if this has not yet been completed. If possible, reach out to family and friends to see if they are willing to donate any over-the-counter medications & supplies that you can bring. Multivitamins, ibuprofen, Tylenol, and wound care supplies are always in need and greatly appreciated.
1 week before the trip:
A detailed comprehensive email will be sent with all trip information (what to pack, traveling information, phone numbers, etc.). Dr. Nowak will also call all group members individually to answer any final questions.
CME MEDICAL MISSION TRIP – DONATIONS
We are very proud to have helped over 10,000 medically underserved people in Guatemala for nearly two decades now. Any donation received is applied to purchasing medications, medical equipment, and lots of eyeglasses, walkers, and wheelchairs for the elderly. All donations are greatly appreciated and can be given by Venmo, GoFundMe, or a check made out to CME Medical Mission Trip to our address: 801 Brookwood Lane, Maryville, TN 37801.
Jalapa, Guatemala
PHOTO GALLERY
