Clinic

Baxter’s Clinic has gone through many changes since it’s 1980s beginning. Board member Tom Miller remembers his first dental brigades in 1982. Miguel Aguilar, in his history of Baxter, notes that in 1984 there was occasional medical and dental services, But in 1989 medical services became available daily.

In 2007 a partnership with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) added considerable resources to the clinic with the rotation of medical student interns. The interns supplement the clinic’s medical staff as well as frequent mobile medical brigades into surrounding communities.

2018 saw the complete renovation of the James Moody Adams Baxter Clinic facility. It sits adjacent to the main campus. It serves the medical needs of Baxter students and staff, campus visitors, but also the needs of our neighbors in poorer communities surrounding Baxter. The renovated facilities has seen the introduction of the prosthetic initiative, Hope to Walk, and the national UNITEC School of Medicine.

One of the most crucial ministries of the clinic is the Children’s Nutrition Program. Much more than a handout, the Baxter Clinic works with mothers of malnourished children to provide meals, cooking lessons, life skills, education, and encouragement. The mothers are given beautician or sewing classes to help expand their work possibilities.

The clinic provides medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services to over 13,000 patients each year. The full-time staff are supplemented by visiting medical missions groups from stateside churches and universities, Honduran medical students, and students from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM).

Jesus never ignored the suffering in His world, nor can we at Baxter turn a blind eye to the many physical needs that exist in Tegucigalpa.

A typical clinical day starts in the early morning hours. People start gathering at the clinic’s outside waiting shelter. At 7:00 a.m. they are led in devotional and prayers. Patients coming to see the doctor or dentist are charged a co-pay of 50 Lempiras (about US$2). Medicine is included at no additional cost.

Typical patient cases include upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal ailments, parasites, diabetes, hypertension, and dengue fever. PAP smears for women are offered on designated days. Frequently, visiting doctors and health care workers expand the clinic’s services to include such things as vision (free glasses) and hearing evaluations. Simple prosthetic legs are constructed in the Hope to Walk workshop at no cost to the recipient.

Clinical Staff

The work at the clinic is overseen by the pharmacist, Dr. Jessica Izaguirre, insuring that all medical work done at the clinic meets the requirements of Honduran law and that those who participate are appropriately certified in Honduras. Dr. Melba Zuniga is responsible for the medical and dental services.