Emilia Kaslow-Zieve, MD: Mountain Area Health Education Center, Family Medicine– PGY-1

Honduras: January 2026

I am very grateful for the opportunity to have traveled to Honduras with MAHEC (my residency program) and Shoulder to Shoulder. The strong partnership between these organizations has created a palpable bond, evident in the excitement of international colleagues reuniting and the deep trust that Honduran patients place in MAHEC clinicians.

Based in Camasca, Intibucá, we traveled daily to remote, rural communities to provide medical care. With the assistance of local community health workers, we transformed schools and community centers into temporary clinic spaces. We addressed various primary care concerns, including diabetes, hypertension, depression, and migraines, and we also performed office-based procedures, such as knee injections for chronic pain. I was prompted to consider how to treat common health conditions in a community where access to medication, nutrition, and exercise habits each differ significantly from my own. In the clinics, I enjoyed talking with patients, learning not just about their physical ailments, but also about their overall wellbeing, their families, values, and culture.

One impactful day was spent at the health clinic in Camasca, where we worked alongside local doctors. This collaboration deepened our understanding of their medical practice, available resources, and referral systems. Additionally, we conducted home visits for patients unable to attend our clinics. These moments required a significant level of patient trust and vulnerability to welcome us into their homes. I held this trust in high regard, feeling honored to meet families in their environments and offer what insight and medical advice I could.

My experience in Honduras not only enriched my clinical skills but, more importantly, deepened my appreciation for the human connections that underpin healthcare and strengthened my resolve to advocate for equitable healthcare access in underserved communities