Chincha Mission at Policlínico PAMS 2023

The Peruvian American Medical Society (PAMS) built the Policlínico PAMS with charitable donations from members and friends in the US and Peru. It was a response to the catastrophic earthquake that destroyed the cities of Chincha and Pisco in 2007 and took many lives. Since then, the Polyclinic welcomes 3 to 4 multi-specialty medical missions a year. All these missions were placed on hold due the COVID-19 pandemic. This year we resumed the medical missions hoping to fulfill the needs of the community.

Our participation: PAMS South Florida chapter has collaborated with this permanent medical mission since 2011. This year we participated in the mission held from June 12th to June 16th.

Medical mission June 12th-16th, 2023: Policlinico PAMS welcomed delegations from Cleveland Clinic Ohio (2 physicians and 7 students), UNMSM (2 physicians, 4 residents and 4 students), and PAMS South FL chapter (6 physicians).

We served a total of 1315 patients, including consults  in General Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Pediatrics, Urology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Neurology and Orthopedics.

Besides the medical visits, South Florida PAMS funded screening testing such as pap smears, mammograms, endoscopies and colonoscopies. The team also presented educational talks to the Universidad Autonoma de Ica, visited one nursing home and 2 ambulatory medical centers. Also,  Cleveland Clinic Ohio conducted a research study to evaluate the knowledge of the local population about cardiovascular risk  and preventive measures for covid-19 infection, and offered free screening testing for anemia, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension and ocular disease.

 We hope PAMS South FL chapter continues collaborating with these missions every year, and for that purpose we need funds to continue providing free or low-cost medical visits, and subsidize screening tests and procedures.

Fundraising Lunch 2023

On Oct 29th, we had our annual fundraising lunch. This time, we went all out by welcoming the new members of the association and the Peruvian Ambassador in Miami with traditional Peruvian folk dances and, of course, typical Peruvian dishes.

We extend our thanks to all the new members and, of course, to those who remain loyal year after year in our mission to support Peru.

Charity Gala of Club Peruano de la Florida

The Peruvian American Medical Society- South Florida Chapter participated at the Charity Gala of Club Peruano de la Florida (Peruvian club in Florida)

On a very special date for all Peruvians, celebrating our National Holidays, a gala dinner was organized to bring together all Peruvian associations in Florida that are part of a non-profit organization with the purpose of helping the most vulnerable in Peru. PAMS (Peruvian American Medical Society) was represented by the entire medical team, which is annually involved in fundraising efforts and actively takes part in the execution of the missions we carry out.

The event exuded unity and pride as Peruvian-Americans joined forces to support their homeland and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. The gala not only commemorated Peru's patriotic spirit but also highlighted the compassionate mission that unites these individuals across borders.

In unity and solidarity, the Peruvian-American community demonstrated that their passion for aiding Peru knows no boundaries. They left the gala with a sense of pride, knowing that they are part of a greater mission, and their efforts will bring hope and positive change to those in need in their cherished homeland.

Lifestyle Medicine – an evidence-based approach to healing

As history shows, lifestyle as medicine was the way to practice medicine thousands of years ago. Currently, there is compelling evidence-based science that supports the important benefits and effects of lifestyle on our health. Approximately 80% of the most prevalent chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, dementia, and cancer can be prevented, treated and some even reversed with consistent positive lifestyle change.

PAMS South Florida member, Dr. Karla Arancibia, has been leading this innovative approach in Latin America, especially in Peru, through lifestyle medicine coupled with health and wellness coaching and culinary medicine.  Dr. Arancibia has focused on the prevention of premature death and chronic disease through behavior modification intervention to help patients achieve sustainable change. Through this individualized patient-centered approach, the doctor-patient relationship takes a new angle as a health and wellness coach to help build the necessary skills to create a balance in the 6 fundamental pillars of Lifestyle Medicine, which include nutrition, physical activity, sleep health, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and social connectivity.  This important adjunct to health management has proven to provide the results needed for a lasting, healthy change in patients to reach longevity with quality of life.   

As part of this movement, Dr. Arancibia has started the first chapter of Walk-with-a-Doc in Peru, in March 2023, as well as a new chapter in Weston, Florida. This physician-led project serves to motivate the communities to engage in healthy habits while socially connecting, managing stress, and walking in nature.  Dr. Arancibia serves on the dietitian and nutritionist advisory committee, helping expand Peruvian food as part of the map of global diet patterns for DIET ID, a dietary assessment and management tool for physicians.  She is also a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine’s CHEF Coaching Program leading the first cohorts in Spanish.  Dr. Arancibia brings healthy and tasteful home cooking across the population in Peru, through culinary medicine coaching and telemedicine. Her work aims to reduce the risk factors, such as overweight, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, that lead to the most prevalent chronic diseases, and to alleviate and treat these and other conditions.  Through a coalition with other physicians at the Ricardo Palma University, in Lima, Peru, she has brought nutritional medicine training to other health professionals in Peru and across Latin America, in an effort to spread this approach within all medical specialties.  The path to wellness she has created has opened up a great opportunity for patients struggling to find the way to health and wellbeing. 

To learn more about this movement visit : www.hvlinstitute.com

Selva in Action

In 2023, during the medical mission from April 29 through May 5, we had the support and collaboration from the PAMS South Florida Chapter, the Peruvian Navy and the Air Force, the Amazon Garden Ecolodge as well as the local and regional authorities.

We served to over 1,100 patient consults from the several villages near the Momon River in the different areas of General Medicine, Pediatrics, Gynecology, and Dental services. Reading glasses were also provided for those in need of them. Many of the patients had to travel several hours in the river to reach our location in the village of El Porvenir. In cooperation with the local health authorities, some of the patients were referred to the main hospital for further evaluation and specialized treatment.

The 2023 medical mission was so far the largest carried out by the SIA team since its foundation. It has been only possible with the collaboration of the many physicians, medical students, authorities, local and foreign volunteers, who dedicated their time and skills to help the Selva in Action team members fulfill its mission.

To joins us, or for more information, please contact either:

• Anita Soluna, M.S - Program Director - anita.soluna@gmail.com - 505 705 5700

• Aryn Yancher - Volunteer Coordinator - selvainactionperu@gmail.com - 530 574 0348