We often receive inquiries as to the need for physicians at Hospital Misión Tarahumara in Mexico. Please allow me to explain our present situation. Our ministry can best be envisioned as having two parts. The first is the work within the hospital. We are quite busy there but Mexican legal requirements forbid a non-Mexican licensed physician to work there. Because the area in which we work is very politically sensitive, we are always under observation by the government. We can usually get temporary permits for specialists in high demand in the Sierra Madre such as Ob/Gyn, pediatricians, anesthesiologists and ophthalmologists.

The second aspect of our work is “Community Health Evangelism” (CHE). In this we follow the model of Medical Ambassadors International – This program is a long-term approach to development and evangelism in the villages. We have a very real need for American physicians in this area of our work and we encourage any physician with an interest in community health care and evangelism to join us on a full or part-time basis. No government approval is necessary for community work.

However, I do have a word of warning for those physicians considering a short term outreach. Many American doctors have a love of short term missions but may visit a different country every year. In my opinion, this amounts to little more than “Christian tourism”. A doctor who wants to make a lasting impact for the Kingdom needs to find one ministry in this world to help, both with his time and his finances. A physician might travel around for a while in search of that ministry, but he should adopt a “courtship” rather than a “dating” attitude; in other words, he should be looking for one place into which to pour his efforts.

Here at Mexico Medical Missions, we are prepared to assist you in your search. We understand that the Sierra Madre may not be the place that God has planned for you. We only ask that you come seeking that path that the Lord has prepared for you. I would sincerely enjoy answering any questions that you might have. Please contact me at mike@mexicomedical.org.

Blessings,

Michael Berkeley M.D.