School of Pharmacy

Guatemala

Guatemala Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Elective 

Ambulatory Care and Public Health in Antigua, Guatemala 

Transform Lives. Advance Your Pharmacy Practice. 

The SIUE School of Pharmacy offers a two to four-week Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) in Antigua, Guatemala, focused on ambulatory care, public health education, and community outreach. Students collaborate with Saint Louis University School of Medicine physicians, medical students, and local Guatemalan healthcare providers to deliver care in Antigua, as well as rural mountain communities, addressing critical health disparities while practicing pharmacy in a global context. 

To prepare, students complete a medical Spanish elective during their P3 year and participate in intensive Spanish tutoring (if not fluent) with a Guatemalan instructor to build language proficiency and cultural competence. During the rotation, students provide clinical assessment and treatment, select and dispense medications, counsel patients, and deliver disease prevention education alongside Guatemalan primary care providers. They gain firsthand experience working in clinics continually operated by Guatemalan providers trained in primary care and community health. 

This experience deepens students’ clinical skills, cultural responsiveness, health literacy awareness, and understanding of public health challenges in underserved populations. Many describe it as transformative, enhancing their Spanish fluency and broadening their perspectives on global healthcare. As Thomas Kelly, Class of 2017, shared, “Students have an amazing opportunity to immerse themselves in another culture, to learn to speak or improve upon a foreign language, and to have interesting experiences in what is a truly unique rotation. Students should be adventurous and explore everything Guatemala has to offer.” 

The average cost is approximately $2000 per student, with travel in February. SIUE provides up to $750 in financial support per student, though funds are limited. Pharmacists and alumni can support this program by volunteering, donating supplies, or sponsoring students through the Pharmacy Global Education Experiences fund. 

Offered since 2015, this program is coordinated by Dr. Misty Gonzalez and Dr. Carrie Vogler. For more information about the Guatemala APPE Mission Trip or to apply for future trips, please contact Dr. Misty Gonzalez at misgonz@siue.edu.