Dr. Raul Ugarte has been an integral part of the Washington Overseas Mission for the last 25 years. We first met Dr. Raul at the invitation of Sister Laurinda Mayer, SSND, who was our initial inspiration to begin work in Honduras in 1992. He has been our steadfast leader and contact to deliver the best medical care to underserved rural Hondurans. Dr. Raul is alcalde (mayor) of Pimienta, Cortes and responsible for the care of more than 25,000 patients and constituents. He oversees housing, healthcare, Security, the stability of the community of Pimienta.
With the help of many donors and friends, we were able to assist Dr. Raul to obtain a life-saving kidney transplantation in 2016 in New Mexico, at the hands of one of his former student, Julie Riley, MD, transplant surgeon, after damage to his kidneys by diabetes. His work has continued to go on for the last six years! He is a gift to his people.
