Guatemala Summer 2026

Health Services Delivery in Resource Poor Settings, Guatemala, Summer 2026

Logistics

Details:

  • Dates: June 22 – August 21, 2026, including July 17 – August 2 in Guatemala
  • Locations: UW Bothell and Rio Dulce region, Guatemala
  • Faculty Director: Dr. Mabel Ezeonwu, Associate Professor of Nursing and Health Studies, mezeo@uw.edu
  • Co-Director: Amanda Sendele, Program Coordinator, Office of Faculty Success, sendele@uw.edu
  • Academic Credits: 12 Summer Quarter credits that fulfill degree requirements SNHS students. Specific course numbers will be assigned that meet the needs of program participants.

Cost:

  • $6,550 program fee*, which covers: 12 Summer Quarter credits; housing, (almost) all meals, local transportation, and educational field trips in Guatemala;
  • $350 study abroad fee;
  • ~$1,000 airfare;
  • $25 travel insurance;
  • ~$300 (depending on health insurance) vaccinations;
  • Passport;
  • Personal expenses at UW Bothell and while abroad.

*Note: Regular UW Bothell tuition will not be charged for these credits. 足彩app哪个是正规的 program fee is in lieu of regular tuition charges.

Academics

Course Overview: This intensive service-learning course, conducted in partnership with a community-based organization, Guatemala Village Health, is designed to expose students to the policy contexts in which health care is delivered in resource-poor settings with particular emphasis on Guatemala. 足彩app哪个是正规的 program will be centered in villages in the mountains above Lake Izabel (Marcajan, Chinavhabilchoch, Chinabengue, and Baltimore) and Rio Dulce, where GVH has cultivated strong partnerships since 2008.

Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America. It is home to over 15 million people and more than half of the population is below the national poverty line. Guatemala faces several health and development challenges, including infant, child, and maternal mortality, malnutrition, literacy, and contraceptive awareness and use. It is also rich in cultural diversity. This program aims to expose students to global development, health systems, global health issues and health care delivery in resource-strapped communities. 足彩app哪个是正规的 course utilizes the community as the pedagogical platform and challenges students to view global health care issues holistically in order to understand how in-country health policies are influenced by local and global determinants.

Course Structure: 足彩app哪个是正规的 course is designed in a hybrid format. 足彩app哪个是正规的 first part of the quarter will be classroom and online-based at UW Bothell, including several orientation sessions with our community partner, Guatemala Village Health. Two weeks in August will be spent in the field, conducting community-based work in the Rio Dulce region of Guatemala. 足彩app哪个是正规的s will be exposed to the population and local health practitioners as they work with minimal resources. Following students’ orientation to the environment, students will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams from U.S. and Guatemala to support the health needs of the community. Reflection and debfriefing activities will take place upon return to the U.S.

足彩app哪个是正规的 course will follow a seminar format. 足彩app哪个是正规的re will be open discussions and minimal lectures during classroom meetings. Online activities will be based on reflective analysis of the course content. Significant amount of time will be devoted to fieldwork and student-led open discussions — synthesizing field experiences, course readings, and individual/group generated ideas. Learning through field observations, active participation in community health promotion activities and team-based problem-solving will be emphasized.

Course Names:

  • Global Health Promotion, 5 credits
  • Independent and Group Research, 2 credits
  • Interdisciplinary Collaborations and Primary Care, 5 credits

Specific course numbers will be assigned in accordance with each student’s academic program.

Graduate students: 

  • MN and MS: B HLTH 597 (5 cr), B HLTH 600 (5 cr) and B HLTH 400 (2 cr) 

Undergraduate students: 

  • BSN: B HLTH 429 (5 cr), B NURS 424 (5 cr), and B HLTH 400 (2 cr) 
  • BHS: B HLTH 429 (5 cr), BHS 496 (5 cr), and B HLTH 400 (2 cr) 
  • Non-SNHS: B HLTH 429 (5 cr); B HLTH 400 (5 cr); B HLTH 498 (2 cr) 

Learning Goals

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Articulate cross-cultural skills needed to collaborate effectively with interprofessional teams in low-resource communities  
  • Analyze the essentials of primary care and health promotion in resource-poor countries. 
  • Conduct health needs assessments of communities in a developing country and describe ongoing policy strategies to address identified needs.  
  • Identify and analyze local and global determinants of health of communities in developing countries with particular focus on Guatemala 
  • Articulate the roles of health professionals, local and global community-based organizations, charitable foundations, and other non-governmental organizations and agencies in global development efforts. 
  • Demonstrate cultural humility and respect and articulate the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.  
  • Engage in primary care and health promotion activities in a global low-income communities 
  • Participate in community-based research and analyze specific health issues of a given population or community.
  • Evaluate own efforts in interprofessional collaboration, cross cultural engagement, and community health interventions.

Apply Now! Information for Applicants

足彩app哪个是正规的 program is open to all students in good academic standing, from all majors, particularly those interested in public health, health care in community settings, community development, cultural studies, global studies, global health policies, environmental studies, and health information technology. Healthcare practice experience or interest, and/or a registered nurse license are highly desired. While the program is open to all majors, priority will be given to students pursuing degrees in the UW Bothell School of Nursing and Health Studies.

足彩app哪个是正规的s should be prepared for a physically and emotionally-intensive two-week experience while in Guatemala, including high heat and humidity, physical activity, and very basic amenities in the villages. Each day is filled with activities from early morning through evening in order to make the most of the short time abroad.

足彩app哪个是正规的 online application requires a resume, unofficial transcript, name of a reference (but no letter of recommendation), and a one-page personal statement that explains why you are a strong candidate for the program by articulating your interests, qualifications and projected benefits to future goals.

For priority consideration, apply by January 31, 2026. After this, applications will continue to be accepted on a space-available basis.

Apply Now!


Applicants will be invited to participate in in-person, group interviews in early-mid February.

Info Sessions

Online info sessions are scheduled at 6pm-7pm on Wednesday, Jan 21 and Thursday, Jan 22, 2026.

Resources

What’s the program like?

Check out blogs from UWB Study Abroad Ambassadors who participated in the program in previous years:

Contact us

Both virtual and in-person appointments are available!

Peer Study Abroad Advisors
Email: uwbworld@uw.edu

Natalia Dyba, Director of Global Initiatives
Email: nataliak@uw.edu
Phone: (425) 352-3261

Make an appointment

Return to the Study Abroad Featured Programs page to view all UW Bothell offerings this year.