Making a Difference in the San Pedro Sacatepéquez Community

Written By: Sam Rate, PT

It’s challenging to put into words the level of sentiment and respect that’s achieved after a trip like the one our team went on in San Pedro Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, with ATI’s Global Reach program. I met so many kind and amazing people from both the United States and the local communities, and together we accomplished more than anyone could imagine. To say that the experience was rewarding would be an understatement.

For this trip, ATI Global Reach partnered with an organization called Move Together, whose sole mission is to, “increase access to quality rehabilitation medicine around the corner and around the world”. In doing this, Move Together’s main objective is to improve the quality and quantity of clinics, empowering clinicians and catalyzing service leaders - our time in Guatemala surely fulfilled these objectives.

The moment we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms. Our group helped the community renovate part of an already-established medical clinic into a physical therapy clinic. The mayor of the town was a driving force in establishing the clinic and making it known to the public. When the renovation was complete, we immediately began treating community members and collaborating with local students.

Members of the San Pedro Sacatepéquez community had never received physical care of this type and quality before, so being the one making this difference truly made me proud to represent ATI.

I was overwhelmed by this entire experience and how grateful everyone was, especially the students. It has truly inspired me to be a better clinician, friend and server of my community. I would encourage all of my fellow ATI team members to take advantage of the Global Reach program, specifically with Move Together if the opportunity exists.

To learn more about the ATI Global Reach program and how to get involved, please visit the official ATI Global Reach website.