Westmont Magazine The Mayo Clinic in Mexico

Cindy Carter ’87 continued her Potter’s Clay service by bringing the Mayo Clinic to Ensenada, Mexico, in October. She works as a clinical research associate for Mayo’s branch in Scottsdale, Arizona.

With the help of pastor Ruben Casteneda (whom she met on Potter’s Clay in 1983) and Dr. Ramón Vidauri (a Mexican physician), Cindy took four internal medicine physicians, a local oncologist, and five other staff across the border loaded down with 40 large suitcases filled with medicines. Mission and medical organizations and drug companies donated the supplies at cost.

Once in Mexico, the team ran free clinics out of local churches. Cindy recalls, “They hung signs in the villages announcing our arrival and prepared numbers for ‘the waiting room.’ The women of the churches prepared lunch for us, so we didn’t need our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Since the physicians never asked to quit, we saw about 580 people in three days and distributed over 40,000 vitamins, many antibiotics, and various other treatments. We also distributed hugs and toys when the physicians determined that the ailment was due, at least in part, to sadness.

“The areas we visited had not had access to medical care for years, as Dr. Ramón is on his own and unable to make it to all of the areas in need every year. The physicians shared precious moments with the people of Ensenada and were touched by the love of the people and the efforts of the poor to reach out to the poorer. They have all expressed an interest in returning to the area next year, so, Lord willing, we will make this an annual Mayo Clinic event!”