Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Authors

Thomas M. Gellhaus, University of IowaFollow

Article Title

Towards increasing health care in the developing world: development of a sustainable site in Bolivia

Abstract

Most Americans are aware of the great need for health care services in the developing world. In this article, Dr. Thomas Gellhaus provides a compelling story of his volunteer efforts to provide obstetric/gynecologic surgical services to developing countries. Since 1996, he has completed 16 projects in the Dominican Republican, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Tanzania. In direct response to Dr. Gellhaus’ successes, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Iowa has made a commitment to develop a sustainable site in Bolivia. Current plans include annual projects that allow physicians and residents to provide valuable medical care to patients in Bolivia, and the long-term vision is to develop an infrastructure that improves health care in this population.

Keywords

developing countries, health services, voluntary workers, University of Iowa, sustainable health care, Bolivia

Submission Type

Article

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Gellhaus TM. Towards increasing health care in the developing world: development of a sustainable site in Bolivia. Proc Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Nov 15;2(2):Article 1 [3 p.]. Available from: http://ir.uiowa.edu/pog/vol2/iss2/1. Free full text article.