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Discover the top 10 reasons to choose CRISMA for your service-learning experience.

1. State-of-the-art rehabilitation clinic and hands-on clinical training

   Gain hands-on clinical experience by assisting physical therapists and medical staff evaluate and treat patients at our 4-year-old outpatient hospital.

2. Work with pediatric and adult patients simultaneously

   You will assist Mexican medical students, licensed physical therapists, psychologists, and speech & language therapists with their clinical duties. You will be able to observe and engage directly with patients aged from infancy to adulthood.

3. Largest hydrotherapy pool in Latin America

   As part of the student team, you will be able to assist physical therapists in the hydrotherapy pool where you will learn about the benefits of this supplemental methodology. Hydrotherapy can help patients recover from an injury or surgery.

   At CRISMA, we use hydrotherapy for patients as young as infants with neurological diseases (such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida), and adults who recently underwent knee and hip replacement surgery.

4. Work side by side with Mexican PT students finishing their degree

   As a university outpatient hospital, CRISMA has formed a strong partnership with UNAM, the Autonomous University of Mexico in San Miguel de Allende. You will be working with Mexican medical students who are completing their “Year of Service,” the equivalent of their final practical year.

5. Brand-new dormitories and cafeteria on site

   You and your fellow US students will be housed entirely onsite in our brand-new dormitories equipped with air conditioning, TV, Internet, refrigerator and more. You will also have a meal plan at our onsite cafeteria. Everything is located within the confines of the outpatient hospital.

6. Coolest town in Mexico, ranked by Conde Nast Travel Magazine

   San Miguel de Allende has been named the “Coolest Town in Mexico” for many years running. With 3,500 U.S. and Canadian expatriates, you will enjoy an unparalleled cultural experience in a beautiful setting.

   There are many fun excursions and extracurricular activities that you can participate in, from hot air ballooning to zip lining, wine tours, cooking classes, and much more. San Miguel de Allende also offers vibrant nightlife, entertainment, cultural excursions, and art exhibits.

   Check out this blog post 35 Magical Things to Do in San Miguel De Allende, Mexico, or view this video.

7. Year-round opportunity to work at CRISMA

   As a nonprofit outpatient hospital, CRISMA operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can volunteer and shadow for a minimum of 2 weeks and stay as long as up to 12 weeks. We are open year-round.

8. Language programs

   Enhance your communication skills and cultural competency by taking Spanish language classes and utilizing your new language skills in the medical setting.

   If your Spanish language abilities are not where you want them to be, let us arrange supplemental Spanish-language classes for you.

9. Fast-track your future and learn about pre-med challenges

   By choosing CRISMA to volunteer or as a pre-medical internship, you will be better prepared for a career in medicine, physical therapy, and other medical fields.

   The CRISMA experience will broaden your understanding of global healthcare and it will shape your perspective, skills, and readiness for a future in healthcare.

10. Meet the former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, and his wife Dona Marta Sahagun

    CRISMA is one of several nonprofit organizations under the Vamos Mexico umbrella that President Vicente Fox and his wife, Dona Marta started after he finished his term in 2006.

    You may have the opportunity to meet them and tour Centro Fox in San Cristobal, where President Fox has established his Presidential library.

The WHO initiative stipulates that rehabilitation should be an essential part of universal health coverage. Rehabilitation is defined as “a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment.”

In the broadest sense, rehabilitation includes strategies that can help an individual overcome difficulties with thinking, seeing, hearing, communicating, eating, or moving around.

CRISMA’s Commitment

CRISMA (Centro Rehabilitacion Integral San Miguel de Allende) is a 501 (c3) nonprofit outpatient clinic with a mission to improve the health and quality of life of people suffering from physical or neurological disabilities in its local communities.

The state-of-the-art outpatient clinic offers a range of services including:

• General medical services
• Psychological counseling of parents, children, and caretakers
• Physiotherapy
• Nutrition
• Speech and language therapy

The four-year-old facility boasts one of the largest hydrotherapy pools in Latin America and takes care of more than 350 patients every month. About half of CRISMA’s patients are pediatrics, many of whom have neurological disabilities.

Service-Learning/ Medical Shadowing at CRISMA

Since opening its doors at the new location in 2020, CRISMA has been welcoming Mexican and American graduate students and professors from a variety of universities, including:

• Cal Poly Humboldt University
• Metropolitan State University, Denver
• San Diego State University
• Texas Tech University
• University of California, Irvine

Students and professors come from a variety of different disciplines to learn, observe, work, and gain a better understanding of the healthcare context and needs of the underserved and underrepresented population of San Miguel de Allende.

The hands-on service-learning opportunity has underscored the humanitarian aspect of physical therapy for many students, which ties in with CRISMA’s values to provide rehabilitation services coupled with a deep humanitarian heart.

Growing Need for Service-Learning Opportunities

The WHO states that: “With changes taking place in the health and characteristics of the population worldwide, the need for rehabilitation is only going to increase in the coming years. People are living longer, with the number of people over 60 years of age predicted to double by 2050. In addition, many more people are living with chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and cancer. While at the same time, the ongoing incidence of injury and child developmental conditions (such as cerebral palsy) persists.”

CRISMA welcomes undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning more about healthcare in the safe, beautiful setting of Mexico. San Miguel de Allende has been named “World’s Best Small City” by Conde Nast Traveler for the third year in a row.

With brand-new dormitories, a full-service cafeteria, and caring medical staff, students and professors will find the ideal service-learning experience at CRISMA.

Any student or university interested in learning more about the exceptional service learning, and medical shadowing opportunity available at CRISMA, please check out our website or contact Kirsten Frosh, Clinical Education Coordinator at kfrosh@mac.com.

In the heart of San Miguel de Allende, CRISMA emerges as a beacon of hope for those facing physical or neurological disabilities, traumas, or injuries that limit their capabilities and resources. Founded in 2015, this Centro de Rehabilitación Integral de San Miguel de Allende, has become a cornerstone of the community, committed to improving the health and quality of life for individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Under the leadership of a dedicated team with years of experience, CRISMA provides personalized therapies tailored specifically to each patient. From physical therapy to psychological counseling, each service is delivered under the expert supervision of trained professionals, ensuring effective treatment adapted to individual needs, always with prior medical referral.

A core principle of CRISMA is accessibility. By adjusting fees based on the patient’s socioeconomic status, the center ensures everyone can access necessary therapies without financial barriers. This approach aligns with its commitment to serving the broader community, including community projects such as the hydrotherapy pool and future developments like a computer center, student residences for physical therapy interns, and a community dining facility — designed to maintain affordability and benefit patients and the general public.

CRISMA also actively fosters partnerships and collaborative projects with various non-governmental organizations, governmental entities, and local businesses committed to social responsibility. These include Feed the Hungry, CASA, Casa Europa, DIF, Equinotherapy SMA, Rotary Club, UNAM Extension Program, Hospital MAC, and Pinturas COMEX, among others, thereby enhancing its impact on the community and promoting synergies that directly benefit CRISMA’s beneficiaries.

Furthermore, in the state of Guanajuato, CRISMA stands as a rehabilitation center alongside the CRIT in Irapuato, INGUDIS in Silao, and the Rehabilitation Tower of the University of Guanajuato in León, solidifying its role as a leader in comprehensive rehabilitation in the region.

CRISMA is part of the social program of Fundación Vamos México, established in 2001 under the leadership of Mrs. Marta Sahagún de Fox. The foundation, dedicated to improving the quality of life for vulnerable populations, has been a catalyst for initiatives like CRISMA and Centro Fox, a beacon in leadership and community development since its inception in 2006 under the presidency of Vicente Fox.

CRISMA’s specialized services include physical therapy, early stimulation, psychomotor development, hydrotherapy, psychology, mechanotherapy, audiology and speech therapy, physical agents therapy, and general medicine. Additionally, nutrition and dental services will soon be offered, further expanding its capacity to comprehensively address patient needs.

Strategically located at Carretera Federal San Miguel de Allende to Dr. Mora KM. 1.1, behind the COMUDE and Ecology buildings, CRISMA operates Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm. For more information or to schedule an evaluation for physical therapy or a general medical appointment, please contact 479-339-9870.

CRISMA welcomes not only the local community but also expats and veterans residing in San Miguel de Allende, inviting them to discover how they can facilitate their journey to recovery and well-being. Its commitment to accessibility, service quality, and community development makes CRISMA a vital player in promoting health and wellness in the region.