Carroll College students, faculty, and healthcare professionals have returned from their annual Medicine in Mexico outreach trip, which took place at Santa Maria del Mexicano in Colón, Querétaro. This marks the third such mission since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team was led by Dr. Kyle Strode, a Carroll College faculty advisor. Healthcare providers on the trip included Darren Hollenbaugh, M.D.; Cindy Hollenbaugh, M.D.; Kally Wilson, P.A.; and David Lechner, M.D. Participating students were Carmen Manalang, Clarissa Ball, Cassandra Ball, Emma Barron, Spencer Berger, and Walker Jump.
Throughout the week-long visit, the group conducted wellness medical exams for students and staff at the mission. These exams included optical and dental screenings. The providers identified cases needing further follow-up so that ongoing care could be prioritized by local staff. Fr. Dan Estes expressed his appreciation for these services: “Fr. Dan repeatedly expressed his gratitude, sharing how meaningful it is for the mission to receive this care, as routine medical services are often difficult to access and afford.”
Students contributed as translators and medical scribes while learning clinical skills such as history-taking and physical examinations. They also delivered health education lessons in Spanish on topics like dental care and nutrition. According to school officials, these presentations stood out for their quality and language proficiency.
Cardiologist Darren Hollenbaugh performed portable echocardiograms when needed and gave a lecture on cardiac anatomy and physiology—a session described as a highlight of the trip.
Beyond clinical work, participants engaged with local culture by visiting historic sites including the Basilica de la Virgen de los Dolores de Soriano and exploring Querétaro’s landmarks such as Catedral de Querétaro and Convento de la Santa Cruz.
A tradition known as the “killer hike” saw all students complete a steep climb behind the school for a group photo at the summit.
The outreach was funded through donations raised during Carroll College’s Day of Giving with significant support from the Lund Trust. Montana Outreach Clinic LLC—owned by Darren Hollenbaugh, Cindy Hollenbaugh, and David Lechner—led the effort in partnership with Carroll College’s Global Education Department.
Student reflections emphasized both professional growth and personal insight gained from working in an underserved community:
“What an incredible experience! Participating in the Medicine in Mexico 2026 trip is something I will be forever grateful for. This was a truly eye-opening experience, as we experienced firsthand what daily life is like for the children at the Santa Maria Mission and how genuinely happy they are. The interactions I had with the children will be connections I hold in my heart forever. I was one of the students with limited experience with the Spanish language, so many of my interactions were non-verbal. The smiles on the children’s faces absolutely lit up the room, and we realized we did not necessarily need Spanish to be able to communicate, which was very special.
The opportunity to work with our incredible trip leaders Dr. Darren Hollenbaugh, Dr. Cindy Hollenbaugh, Dr. David Lechner, Kally Wilson, PA, and our Faculty Advisor Dr. Kyle Stode helped me think more deeply about my impact when I myself become a Physician Assistant. I enjoyed getting to work with each provider and seeing how they each approached the clinic in different ways, how they each interacted with the children, and how they each took a great deal of time to share their incredible knowledge of medicine with each of us on the trip. The lessons and large bits of knowledge will be things I hold with me through applying to PA school, attending PA school, and one day becoming a PA.
I highly recommend that any Carroll student interested in this experience apply and see for themselves how impactful this experience truly is.” — Emma Barron
“The Medicine in Mexico trip was truly a life-changing experience. I had the opportunity to learn so much about medicine from the incredible healthcare professionals we worked alongside. During this trip, I learned to step outside of my comfort zone by using my Spanish to build relationships with the community at Santa Maria and to assist in medical examinations. Additionally, I gained a deeper understanding of what medicine truly means—not only treating patients’ health conditions but also showing people we serve as healthcare providers that we care about them.” — Walker Jump
“Being part of this trip was an incredible experience and opportunity that I am so grateful for. Not only was connecting with kids in Santa Maria a memory that I greatly cherish but getting to know people on this team has also been so special…” — Carmen Manalang
Additional student comments highlighted resourcefulness during clinic operations using basic equipment in makeshift spaces while focusing on patient connection:
“The most valuable experience that I had from Medicine in Mexico was…our team put our best foot forward…we were able to turn a library into a patient clinic…but I believe the most important tool we used was context clues around us…” — Clarissa Ball
“The Medicine in Mexico trip was an experience full of growth and learning…This may have all been done in a makeshift clinic that we set up ourselves but we were able to provide meaningful care…” — Cassandra Ball
Reflections also touched upon cultural insights regarding family bonds within multigenerational homes:
“Serving communities down in Mexico showed me importance of family…multigenerational homes play an important role…showed me importance of one day hopefully having opportunity to care for my parents when they get older…” — Spencer Berger
The program continues its legacy started by Carroll alumni Tim and Char McInnis.
