What Belize Taught Me About Healthcare: Lessons From a Volunteer Doctor

hello599388
Oct 28
2 min read

This October, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to remote villages in Belize with InterVol, an organization that provides medical care to underserved communities across the world. Our team journeyed into areas where access to healthcare is very limited, offering clinical support, basic medical care, and health education.

A crowd of people getting medical care in a church

The Power of Simplifying Medical Care

In a world where healthcare can feel complicated and high-tech, Belize reminded me that sometimes, focusing on the basics can have the most profound impact.

We saw patients who had never had their blood pressure checked, which is something so simple can be life-saving when it’s part of regular care.

We offered blood sugar testing and education on diabetes. The real transformation happened when we slowed down to teach. We explained what "high blood sugar" means, how it affects the body, and why medication is important in managing type 2 diabetes. Because why would anyone take a pill from a stranger if they don’t understand what it’s for?

That’s when I realized education is medicine too.

Health Education as Empowerment

In each village, our goal wasn’t just to “treat,” it was to empower and educate.

We showed families how to keep their skin dry to prevent fungal infections. We talked about hydration, handwashing, and the importance of movement. We saw firsthand that health literacy changes everything...when people understand the “why,” they take ownership of their healing.

That’s the same philosophy I bring home to my practice in Rochester: effective medicine isn’t about control, it’s about education and empowerment.

Where Herbal and Conventional Medicine Meet

Another powerful reminder came as we worked with both conventional and herbal medicine side by side.

We treated wounds and infections with antibiotics when needed, but we also used herbal medicines to help soothe sore throats and improve sleep.

There was a quiet beauty in seeing these worlds work together, not in opposition. It’s the same integration I value in naturopathic medicine: science and nature, hand in hand.

Seeing the World Differently

One of my favorite parts of this experience was hearing stories from the eye clinic. We fitted countless children, men, and women with prescription glasses. Seeing the joy and excitement in their eyes, to finally be able to see clearly, was priceless.

It’s easy to forget how powerful small interventions can be when we live in a world of endless options. Sometimes, one small act such as a pair of glasses, a genuine conversation, or an educational moment, can change the course of someone’s life.

What I Brought Home

Belize reminded me that healing begins with humanity.

It’s in the willingness to listen. It’s in the courage to teach. It’s in the belief that people deserve to understand how their own bodies function.

Whether I’m sitting with a woman in my office in Rochester, guiding her through thyroid imbalance or the menopausal transition, or standing in a crowded clinic in Belize, the lesson is the same: healing happens when we empower people to be participants in their own care.