Marianna Jolly, MD: Overlook Medical Center, Family Medicine– PGY-3

Guatemala: March 2026

 I am so thankful for the opportunity to have gone to Antigua, Guatemala to practice medicine. It was eye opening for multiple reasons. It was very enlightening to understand how another country practices medicine. Just one example is that a variety of health care providers can prescribe medications due to the severe shortage of doctors - nurses, nurse aids, and EMT’s can all prescribe medication as they see fit for patients under their care.

  My experiences in Guatemala made me extremely appreciative of the resource rich medical system we work in. There are still many areas to be improved upon in our health care system, but there are things we take for granted. For example, as I was taking care of a patient, I was concerned she was having an MI. I called an ambulance, but the ambulance was not going to be there for 45-50 minutes. We then tried calling an uber for the patient but had to eventually cancel as the ride kept getting lost. The patient eventually ended up walking to the local public hospital. I was the only physician available for this clinic, and thus, it really felt like I was practicing on my own, just as I will after residency. This was challenging, of course, but it gave me the confidence I will need to practice independently after completion of residency.

  Aside from the clinical experience, it was so special to stay with a Guatemalan family. I was able to enjoy local foods and traditions - I was very lucky to be there during the week of “Semana Santa”. I now have a much greater appreciation of Guatemalan culture which I hope can help me relate to my Guatemalan patients. Overall, it was a very positive experience that I would recommend to anybody presented with a similar opportunity.