Twenty Years of Service and Impact at Hillside - Kristine Gingerich, Students & Volunteers Outreach Director

A medical volunteer once noted that Hillside Clinic’s survival for over 20 years is remarkable, as many nonprofits don’t last that long. In fact, a quick Google search reveals that about 30% of U.S. nonprofits dissolve within 10 years. 

The body of Hillside has grown and changed numerous times over the years. Currently, it includes these fantastic people:  

• Nineteen Belizean staff, half of whom have been with Hillside for 10 years or longer. 

• Four full-time long-term volunteers who provide oversight of Hillside’s programs, along with three professionally trained Belizean staff 

• In 2023, 122 students from five disciplines  came from over 50 different programs across  the United States, the United Kingdom, and  Australia to “learn while serving.”  

• In 2024, over 50 clinical volunteers from multiple disciplines will provide on-the-ground  support to Hillside’s programs. 

The founders of Hillside could hardly have  envisioned the entourage of people who  would band together over the years to  make Hillside the place it is today. In this  place, patients receive excellent care, so  many professionals volunteer their services free of charge, students choose to come to learn about  global health, and cultures blend to work together to  learn and grow.  

The “magic” of Hillside makes an impact that is difficult  to quantify. The impact can be seen in many professionals volunteer their services free of charge, students choose to come to learn about  global health, and cultures blend to work together to  learn and grow.  

The “magic” of Hillside makes an impact that is difficult  to quantify. The impact can be seen in ily!