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.
Clinical Education Consultant
