An interview with Clínica Verde board member, Dr. Mary Huber.

Q: How will Clínica Verde be different from other clinics? How will the experience differ?

At the core of the Clínica Verde experience is the attitude that all people are precious and that their value resides not in their material wealth but in their presence. This attitude is reflected in the beauty of the surroundings and in the holistic approach to their care.

Q: Why so much in one site? Why include a garden, cafe and vendor kiosks in the plan? What does this have to do with health?

Health can be defined purely in medical terms or can be a term that signifies a more complete understanding of an individual's wellness. Utilizing the more encompassing definition mandates that we address not only an individual's medical status, but also the nutritional, educational and economic health of an individual, their family, and their community.

Q: The focus on Clínica Verde is on the family. What does this mean to you, and why is it important in areas such as Boaco, Nicaragua, where your clinic prototype will be located?

To focus on the family ensures that the reach of the clinic will automatically extend beyond the person that is seen in the clinic. By stressing the importance of each individual as an invaluable part of a greater whole, they can become educators in their own right, to their children, their neighbors, and their community. Boaco is an ideal place for the clinic primarily because it is at the crossroads of many smaller, more rural areas that have no access to medical care. Proximity to Boaco allows us to take advantage of the larger community and its resources (like the new local hospital) but still be available to those who have the least.