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

How to Cite:

Gellhaus, T. M., (2011) “Towards increasing health care in the developing world: development of a sustainable site in Bolivia”, Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynecology 2(2), 1–3. doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2154-4751.1116

Rights: Copyright © Thomas M. Gellhaus, 2011.