Greetings to the readers Chapala Med’s Health Newsletter and our patients. We find ourselves at the end of another year and in November, Chapala Med celebrated 6 years of providing medical care to the Chapala lakeside area.   Many patients have asked why I did not publish a November edition of this newsletter? Although we were excited early in the month, a sudden and very sad turn of events put a damper on the remainder of the month and the rest of this year for me. I unexpectedly lost my father on the evening of the 13th of November. Those who attended the RIBERA MEDiCAL CENTER Hospital groundbreaking ceremony may remember that he was present. He also visited the clinic frequently during the winter months.  My father instilled his quiet manner and hard and honest work ethic on which I laid the foundation of what today has become Chapala Med.  I lost my best friend, my hero and one most inspirational persons in my life (along with my mother) and other great teachers and mentors I have had the fortune of meeting.  So, I hope that the readers of my newsletter and my patients will be understanding of why I was away from the office for a few days. I’d like to thank all who reached out to me via social media, texts, emails, phone calls and being at my side during this difficult time. I am truly blessed by the outpouring of support that has been demonstrated. Thank you. 

This January will mark the end of our second year and the start of our our 3rd year at our present location. Chapala Med has evolved and significantly grown in 2018 and will continue to grow in 2019. We’ve formalized Chapala Med’s affiliation with TWO hospitals in Guadalajara; Hospital Country 2000 and Puerta de Hierro Sur.  In 2019 we will be formalizing a partnership with a major U.S. university hospital which frequently is ranked amongst the top 10 in the entire U.S.  These affiliations and partnerships have surpassed my wildest dreams and will provide valuable and credible resources for medical care for the lakeside community. 

In 2018 We welcomed Dr. Cherry Adjchavanich (Women’s Health & GP) as well as our new dentist, Dr. Alba Zamora and this month we are welcoming Dr. Henry Byrum an Internist from Louisville Ky., with more than 40 years of clinical experience.   In January we expect to welcome HEARING AID specialists to our office. Our clinical neurologist, Dr. Sergio Mendoza will hold office ours regularly and we have ben working with Dr. Ernesto Ledesma to lay the ground work and found REVIVE STROKE CENTER at Puerta de Hierro Sur Hospital. Chapala Med will be the LAKESIDE EMERGENCY CALL CENTER for strokes.  We have had very successful cases in which our patients were able to get to the hospital in from our clinic in 35-40 minutes and have had very successful outcomes.  Our team and network of doctors are very proud of our past accomplishments but we recognize that there is much more work to be done as well as improvements to be made in the upcoming year.  

The most significant event we will be looking forward to in 2019 is the opening of the RIBERA MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL.  A full service hospital for emergencies & surgeries. It will have an ICU, labor & delivery ward as well as full lab & imaging department with MRI and CT scan.  Construction of this 2 story facility can be fully appreciated on the Libramiento across from El Dorado condominiums. It is slated to be open and fully operational by the summer of 2019. 

Since I opened my practice in Chapala in 2012 the medical care scene has rapidly evolved since then. I thank all who’ve mad this growth and evolution possible.  I’d like to extend my gratitude to all who have chosen Chapala Med to provide them with their medical care in the past and in the future. I am blessed to have the privilege to do what I love for a living.I learn so much every day from each and every one of you. The triumphs, joys as well as the things that may cause you grief and sadness all become an integral part of me. Thank you for sharing your live stories with me. I count myself lucky to be your guide in the jungle that is the Mexican Medical system and as your PARTNER in maintaining your health, independence and quality of life. And last but not least, we’d like to wish each and every one of our patients (past and present) a very happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year. 

In closing I’d like to remind our readers of our (Chapala Med & Ribera Medical Center’s) 
MISSION STATEMENT so that you are all aware of what we are striving to accomplish everyday and hold us to this mission.  Thank you for continued support. 

Santiago R. Hernandez M.D.