In 2010, as a new UVM medical graduate, Carolina Zuheill was working in a small clinic in Mexico’s isolated Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range – from where one encounter would change her life and countless others, and help redefine healthcare in remote rural communities.
It started as a typical morning for the young doctor, who was filling out requests by typewriter for medication that would take two months to be delivered. Before her first patients arrived, Carolina was greeted by an Indigenous woman, Maria, who had walked 20 hours to reach the clinic, carrying her sick baby. Maria’s plea for help revealed the harsh reality faced by many in remote areas of Mexico – limited access to healthcare and dire living conditions.
As Carolina attempted to save the baby’s life with minimal resources, she realized the enormity of the challenges faced by communities like Maria’s. The experience inspired Carolina to create the GUIMEDIC Medical Humanitarian Association.
“It was a turning point for me. With millions of people dying each year of preventable conditions in Mexico, I knew I had to do more to help people like Maria who lack access to quality healthcare,” Carolina said.
From its humble beginnings, with just Carolina and a backpack of medical supplies, GUIMEDIC has grown over the past ten years to provide quality healthcare to disadvantaged communities across Mexico, and, more recently, beginning operations in Spain and Africa. With more than 1,200 volunteers, GUIMEDIC’s mobile clinics reach remote areas where healthcare is scarce or non-existent, offering vital healthcare services and support. Volunteers have spent 15,600 hours traveling to remote areas by van, boat, small airplane, and foot to save lives and change communities.
Carolina’s unwavering commitment to her patients, who she considers family, has earned her the title: ‘Doctor of the Poor.’
Reflecting on GUIMEDIC's impact, Carolina says, “Every person we assist marks a victory. It’s about more than just treating illnesses – it’s about restoring dignity and giving people hope for a better tomorrow.”
Carolina's tireless efforts have received numerous accolades, including in December 2023, when she won the International ‘We are Together’ Award. This prestigious award is presented to people who contribute to solving important humanitarian problems. Each year, citizens from six regions of the world are recognized in three categories: Social Justice, Health, and Emergency Response. Carolina’s work with GUIMEDIC Medical Humanitarian Association was recognized as the best medical volunteer practice, surpassing organizations such as Doctors of the World, and Doctors Without Borders (Middle East chapter).
Carolina says her connection to UVM remains strong today, serving as a testament to the university's commitment to instilling in its students a sense of social responsibility and making a positive impact in communities. The university was integral to Carolina’s GUIMEDIC growth, first supporting her in 2013 as a Premio UVM fellow, where she was recognized along with other young social entrepreneurs in Mexico. Following this, UVM supported Carolina in the structure and management of GUIMEDIC through her Master’s studies, and she was named a Laureate ‘Here for Good’ global award winner for her social impact work in 2017.
Today, GUIMEDIC operates in 32 communities across five states of Mexico and has started working with communities in Spain and Africa, but Carolina says her mission doesn't end there. She dreams of expanding GUIMEDIC's reach to every state in Mexico and then into Central and South America. And through it all, Carolina remains connected to Maria—the woman whose story of loss inspired the creation of GUIMEDIC. Maria now has two children and has entrusted their healthcare, since birth, to Carolina.
