Beyond Borders: Nursing alumna brings compassionate care to rural Belize

A man arrived at a temporary mobile medical clinic in rural Belize, complaining of frequent chest pain when walking or working. As alumna Chloe Zimmerman (’26) listened to his symptoms, she quickly recognized warning signs, drawing on her clinical experience on a telemetry floor and training from the College of Nursing's Bachelor of Science in Nursing Integrative Health program. She recommended that he seek further evaluation at a permanent clinic or hospital. However, the man explained that he lacked transportation, time, or money to make the trip.

For Zimmerman, the encounter underscored a challenge she had not experienced during training in the United States: sometimes the greatest barrier to care isn't knowing what a patient needs but rather whether they can access it. This experience became one of the most memorable moments of her first global health mission with World Gospel Outreach, where she provided nursing care through mobile medical clinics serving rural communities in Belize.

Located on the eastern coast of Central America between Mexico and Guatemala, Belize is home to about 429,000 people. More than half of the population, about 55%, lives outside urban areas, where distance and limited health care infrastructure can make access to medical services difficult. Belize's average annual income is about $7,000 USD per person, and many rural communities face barriers to care due to transportation challenges and financial limitations. Volunteer medical teams help bridge some of those gaps by bringing care directly to rural communities, working with basic resources, donated medications, and limited opportunities for follow-up care.

Zimmerman first learned about the health mission opportunity during her first week of nursing school, when Stephanie Tippin, DNP, RN, associate clinical professor at the College of Nursing, spoke about her involvement. The idea stayed with Zimmerman throughout her nursing education, and about six months after graduating, she reached out to Tippin to ask about participating. “My goal is to help people and apply the skills I learn to care for others, especially in places that need it most,” she said.

For Tippin, seeing Zimmerman follow through on that goal was especially rewarding. “Chloe's interest in serving others and gaining experience in global health was evident from the very beginning,” Tippin said. "It was wonderful to see her pursue this opportunity after graduation. Global health experiences like these expose our students and alumni to health care systems very different from those in the United States, strengthening their clinical judgment, adaptability, and cultural awareness, all skills they bring to every future patient they serve.”

Working alongside an interdisciplinary team of medical volunteers, Zimmerman helped provide care to nearly 100 patients each day. Patients first met with a community health worker before being seen by the nursing team. Zimmerman conducted patient assessments, screened for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, documented and educated patients on their medications and healthy lifestyle choices, and participated in home visits for patients unable to travel to the clinics.

Those home visits included caring for individuals who had experienced strokes or were paralyzed. Zimmerman and the nursing team assessed their health needs, documented medications, and identified supplies to provide.

The experience also allowed Zimmerman to take on responsibilities she would not typically have in a U.S. hospital. She and Tippin helped recommend medications, which a physician then reviewed. “In the U.S., it is normally the doctor who places the medication order, so this allowed me to play a bigger role in this clinical setting," Zimmerman said.

Communication also posed unique challenges. Although translators worked alongside the team, conversations with patients sometimes required extra time and careful consideration to ensure that medical information and questions were communicated accurately. Zimmerman occasionally relied on her limited Spanish to help bridge communication gaps.

Throughout the trip, Zimmerman saw firsthand how geographic isolation and financial barriers affected patients with chronic conditions, often forcing them to choose between seeking medical care and meeting other basic needs. While she recognizes that the U.S. health care system also faces significant challenges, the trip deepened her appreciation for American resources and support systems, such as emergency transportation and specialty services.

“This trip made me realize there are many health care gaps that have been filled for Americans but remain unfilled for Belizeans,” she said. “When resources are scarce, Belizeans must rely on community volunteers. The experience taught me to be more compassionate toward others and inspired me to help address the problem in my practice rather than merely treat symptoms.”

Zimmerman plans to continue her education, pursue critical care nursing, and ultimately become a flight nurse. She also hopes to continue serving communities with limited access to health care, an experience she says will shape her career wherever it leads.

Her time in Belize reinforced her belief that nursing extends beyond treating illness. It requires adaptability, cultural understanding, and a commitment to meeting patients where they are. Experiences such as Zimmerman's underscore the College of Nursing’s commitment to preparing graduates ready to improve health in communities across Arizona and around the world.