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Community Health Institutes

Two young women use their biomedical engineering skills to fix a dental chair

Through EWB-USA's Community Health Institutes we are working to address a critical challenge: hospitals in low-resource countries often rely on donated medical equipment that arrives broken, outdated, or unusable. Through our hands-on programs, participants gain technical training, cross-cultural experience, and the opportunity to make a real difference in global health by repairing medical equipment, supporting hospital staff, and improving patient care where it’s needed most.

HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES
CAN START WITH YOU.

Apply your engineering and healthcare skills to repair medical equipment and improve patient care in hospitals in Guatemala this upcoming summer.

Applications Open Nov. 3

THE CHALLENGE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AROUND THE WORLD RELY ON BROKEN OR OUTDATED DONATED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE LIFESAVING TREATMENT.

THE SOLUTION YOU CAN JOIN A GLOBAL TEAM RESTORING CRITICAL DEVICES AND TRANSFORMING PATIENT CARE BY APPLYING YOUR SKILLS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING.

“I think the most valuable part of the EWH Institute was all of the different people I learned from - the other students, the coordinators and the hospital staff. The experience definitely opened my eyes to other ways of thinking and doing things.”

Sofia, 2023 Institute Participant

Overview

EWB-USA’s 2026 Community Health Institutes in Guatemala empower emerging STEM leaders to improve healthcare access in low-resource communities. Participants gain technical and cultural skills while collaborating with hospital partners to repair and maintain vital medical equipment.

What's Involved

Month 1: Technical & Cultural Training

Equipment Repair Training

  • Study mechanical and electrical troubleshooting techniques
  • Understand medical equipment use, maintenance, and repair
  • Learn hands-on skills and creative solutions for resource-limited settings

Language and Cultural Immersion

  • Form international friendships, taking classes and volunteering alongside Guatemalan engineering students
  • Experience Guatemalan culture by living with a Guatemalan host-family
  • Take Spanish language classes with industry-specific training, including biomedical vocabulary

Work with Local Partners

  • Interact with local hospitals, health centers, and clinics
  • Visit EWB-USA project sites
  • Experience fun, cultural outings with your peers

Learn More

Get more information by downloading the application packet here.

Month 2: Hands-On Service

Support Partner Healthcare Facilities in Small Teams

  • Repair and install critical medical equipment
  • Contribute to sustainable development by training staff on
    equipment use and maintenance
  • Improve healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations
  • Strengthen your interpersonal and cross-cultural skills


Join a Community

  • Connect with a global network of like-minded students and medical professionals
  • Build relationships with your homestay family and local community
  • Learn and grow with hospital staff and local technicians
  • Bring your Institute experience home by meeting with EWB-USA chapters and engineering classes

Program Fees

The program fee for the 2026 Community Health Institute in Guatemala is $6,800 USD. Please see the application packet for details on what is and is not included in program fees.

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YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

With your support, we can continue to be on the frontlines and share our expertise to innovate, respond, and prepare communities to be resilient.

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