Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Central America. Three out of five people live in poverty and public health resources are extremely limited. On the Honduran Bay Island of Roatán, there is only one public hospital tasked with providing inpatient care for a population of more than 80,000 – nearly half of whom are under eighteen.

The Clinic is now staffed with a Honduran pediatrician who is assisted by rotating American pediatric attendings and residents, while student interns from the HEAL program help with patient registration and triage.

In addition to coordinating the RVPC program, we secure medical equipment and supplies for the public hospital and train Honduran physicians to better care for patients. Through partnership with local medical and government institutions, we have also facilitated numerous capacity-building projects in Roatán focusing on oral health, trauma medicine, and neonatology. We are currently pursuing new initiatives in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Berkeley and Medic Mobile to improve newborn and child health on the island.

Dr. Eric Scher, Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics, serves as the Global Healing RVPC Volunteer Medical Director. He was one of the initial medical directors of the RVPC with many visits to the Rostán Public Hospital over the years. Dr. Scher has committed to direct the Global Healing Fellow program at RVPC. This program gives new Honduran Doctors the opportunity to gain a year of practical experience in a medically diverse public hospital, enhancing their skills to be the best qualified physicians within their own country. The Fellow works under the supervision of Dr. Scher and Dr. Karla Cerritos the on-site RVPC Pediatrician.

Projects
Roatán Volunteer Pediatric Clinic
Est. 2003
Ultrasound Equipment & Training
Est. 2007
Dental Varnish Program
Est. 2008