MEDICAL MISSIONS · GUATEMALA · MEXICO
Minnesota Doctors for People
For 20 years, MDP has sent medical mission teams to Guatemala and Mexico to provide free health care to underserved communities.
MDP is excited to celebrate 20 years of mission!
Who we are
Minnesota Doctors for People assembles teams to bring free medical care to communities that rarely see a doctor. We're a small, volunteer-run nonprofit out of Mankato, Minnesota — doctors, nurses, pharmacists, interpreters, and non-medical people — who travel each year to rural Guatemala and the Chiapas region of southern Mexico to set up clinics in villages where care is otherwise out of reach.
We work with local churches and service organizations who know their communities, trust us because we keep coming back, and tell us exactly where care is needed most.
In 20 years we've made 35 trips, seen over 15,000 patients, and sent more than 350 volunteers.
There’s a place for you on these trips
MDP trips need a full team. Find where you fit.
Medical Volunteer
If you work in medicine, your skills are needed. MDP trips are built around a core clinical team: doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other medical personnel
Interpreter
Interpreters are essential to every trip. If you speak Spanish - fluently or conversationally - you can bridge the gap between patients and providers in a way no one else can.
General Volunteer
Some of our most valuable volunteers have never seen a patient. They've stocked and managed the pharmacy, captured the stories, kept the clinic running. No medical background required — there is a role for you.
Getting started
From curious to clinic. Here’s what the process looks like to get involved with an MDP trip.
-
Fill out a short form telling us who you are, what you do, what trip you are applying for and what draws you to the mission.
-
A member of the MDP team will be in touch to learn more about you, answer your questions, and talk through what a trip actually involves.
-
Based on your background, availability, and the roles needed, we'll match you to a specific trip — either Guatemala or Chiapas, Mexico — where you'll be the most useful.
-
Before you leave, you'll connect with your fellow volunteers, go through an orientation, and get everything you need to know — what to pack, what to expect, and how the clinic runs.
-
You go. Fly down with your team and get to work.
Stories from the Blog
Our blog is written by volunteers sharing stories of what they have seen and reflections on their experiences.
“It is one of those opportunities that is difficult to adequately explain But within oneself it is life-changing.”
— Dr. Aaron Johnson
Medical Doctor
“I experienced beauty firsthand, and it would take a fool to ever see the world the same after witnessing such things.”
— Adrian Brown
College Student & Translator
“When arriving in the Trinidad community where we will have clinic, the community members are in full swing preparing a space for our clinic The mission of MDP is a powerful one and everyone wants to be involved in some way.”
— Maximilian BrownGeneral Volunteer
Follow along with MDP on our socials!
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The current cost of an MDP trip is $1,950, which is paid by each volunteer. Volunteers cover their own travel expenses so that donated funds can go toward purchasing medicines and supplies for the communities we serve.
MDP offers a $500 scholarship, which volunteers can apply for through our website. Many volunteers have also successfully raised additional funds through family, friends, churches, and other supporters who want to contribute to the mission.
-
No! Our teams include medical professionals, interpreters, and volunteers who help in the pharmacy. You do not need a medical background to make a meaningful contribution to an MDP trip.
-
While no organization can guarantee 100% safety, MDP takes precautions to stay informed about conditions in the areas we visit.
Our teams monitor safety conditions and work with trusted contacts in both Mexico and Guatemala who help us assess the situation on the ground.
-
Accommodations and meals vary depending on the destination.
In Guatemala, we stay in San Lucas Tolimán at a hotel selected by our local host, Friends of San Lucas. Most meals are served in their kitchen and dining hall, and lunches are prepared for us to take to clinics.
In Mexico, we typically stay in hotels located 30–60 minutes from the villages we serve. We may change hotels once during the trip. Meals vary depending on our location. Sometimes local nuns prepare meals for the team, while other times we eat at restaurants in San Cristóbal.
Our local hosts follow food preparation guidelines to help ensure meals are safe.
-
MDP handles booking the flights and necessary travel arrangements for each trip.
Once in Guatemala or Mexico, we travel to clinic locations in vans driven by hired drivers. Our local host organizations help select the villages where our medical services are most needed.
Volunteers do not need to arrange their own transportation to the clinics.
-
Trips to Guatemala typically last 8–9 days, while trips to Mexico generally last 9–11 days.
We also make time for volunteers to experience the places and cultures we visit.
In Guatemala, trips often include a day exploring Lake Atitlán and visiting nearby communities, along with time in the historic town of Antigua on the final day.
In Mexico, we typically reserve the last day for shopping and sightseeing in the town where we're staying.Item description
-
Yes. All volunteers need a valid passport to travel internationally.
Your passport must remain valid for at least six months after your scheduled return date.
-
While the trip fee covers the arranged travel, volunteers should bring some additional spending money.
You may want to purchase snacks, sodas, souvenirs, or gifts during the trip.
In Mexico, when staying in San Cristóbal, volunteers also pay for their own breakfasts and dinners at local restaurants.
The amount of extra money you'll need depends on your personal spending preferences and the trip's destination.
-
Before each trip, MDP trip leaders purchase and organize the medicines and supplies needed to operate our clinics. These purchases are funded through donations to MDP.
Medical providers and nurses are encouraged to bring the equipment they normally use to evaluate patients, such as stethoscopes, otoscopes, and ophthalmoscopes.
MDP purchases the laboratory testing supplies needed for the trip.
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime with the contact form below - we will get back to you in a timely manner.
No questions and ready to apply?
Contact the Team
If you have any questions that we can help answer, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact form.
A member of the MDP team will reach out to you via email in a timely manner.
