Cruz Roja Chapala is making great strides in beefing up its medical staff, reports Board Vice President Norm Pifer.
“Dr. Sam Thelin, our medical director, has managed to increase our team of professional physicians at minimal cost, with a positive slant towards expertise in specialized fields and bilingual language skills,” Pifer says.
Who’s who
Dr. Aaron Paul Arrayga Gonzalez came aboard at the Chapala Red Cross clinic almost a year ago. He is a Chapala native and graduate of Guadalajara’s Lamar Medical School. He completed his social service in the innovative Orthopedics and Trauma Unit at the city’s Hospital Civil. He is now studying hard to improve his basic skills in English.
Dr. Miguel Agustin Lomeli Acosta from Guadalajara also earned his medical degree at Lamar. He did his internship at the Guadalajara Military Hospital and social service at the Youth Attention Institute. A fluent English speaker, he worked at Hospital San Javier before signing on at the Chapala clinic four months ago.Dr. Christopher Abraham Martinez Ramirez of Chapala started as a paramedic at Chapala Red Cross. He went on to earn a degree from the Autonoma de Guadalajara Medical School. He has been a member of the Chapala clinic’s medical staff for about a year while also holding down a job as staff doctor at the local Instituto Technologico Superior.
Dr. David Ponce Herrera, another Tapatio and Lamar graduate, interned at the Hospital Civil and completed his social service in the facility’s HIV Unit. He has been a part-time doctor at the Chapala clinic for the past two months, working critical weekend shifts.
Another recent addition is Dr. Roberto Aceves, who serves weekends only as the second doctor in Chapala.
Dr. Jaime Ortega Rodriguez has been the physician in charge of supervision at the Red Cross’ Ajijic branch clinic since it opened for medical services last September. Born and raised in Chapala, he is a graduate of the University of Guadalajara Medical School. He also works for the Ministry of Health as a doctor in Mezcala.
Dr. Manuel Rivera Cuevas became the primary doctor at the Ajijic clinic two months ago, following a stint at Cruz Roja Toluquilla. He covers medical services Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and speaks fluent English.
Thelin notes that he, Arrayga and Rivera are in the process of taking courses to qualify for a special degree in emergency medicine. Thelin and Arrayga are already certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), while several other doctors are headed down the path towards getting their ACLS certifications by next March.
“With a larger and more qualified staff, we can finally provide the full emergency services both foreign and native patients expect,” Pifer says. “While the board of directors works diligently to qualify for Serguro Popular to boost our cash flow and expansion, the support of the lakeside community continues to be the most important factor to the viability and success of Chapala Red Cross.”