Centro Oftalmológico La Familia The eye center of Hospital de la Familia, formerly La Familia Eye Center
A Guatemalan-led eye center and teaching program in the highlands of San Marcos, built over five decades with ophthalmologists from the United States, and serving patients from western Guatemala and southern Mexico.
From visiting teams to a Guatemalan-led center
COLF grew out of fifty years of partnership between the people of Nuevo Progreso and volunteer ophthalmologists, many of them graduates of the CPMC residency in San Francisco.
- 1976
The hospital opens
Padre Cayetano Bertoldo, Bay Area contractor Jack Younger and Jeanine Archimbaud open Hospital de la Familia in Nuevo Progreso on February 8.
- 1990s
The eye teams
U.S. volunteer teams visit four or five times a year, carrying donated surgical supplies for hundreds of operations in their luggage.
- 2015
A new model
The eye center hires its first full-time Guatemalan director. With help from the Hernández family of Guatemala City, young Guatemalan ophthalmologists join, and care becomes year-round.
- 2022
The fellowship
The two-year comprehensive fellowship begins training surgeons from Guatemala and across Latin America.
- 2026
COLF today
Now Centro Oftalmológico La Familia: about 6,500 surgeries a year, led by Guatemalan specialists and supported by international faculty.
- 2027
A new building
Construction of a new 4,200 m² eye and surgery center is planned to begin in January, with completion expected in December 2028. Follow the project
- 2030
10,000 surgeries
The goal: 10,000 eye surgeries a year, made possible by the new center and a growing team of trained surgeons.
Part of Hospital de la Familia
COLF is the ophthalmology service of Hospital de la Familia, a nonprofit medical center that also provides general, surgical, maternal and pediatric care to the region, as well as nutritional care for undernourished children. The Hospital de la Familia Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3), is one of COLF’s main funders, alongside its many other programs.
This site is for the people who make the program work: fellows and applicants, Guatemalan and visiting faculty, Grand Rounds participants, volunteers and supporters.
Seen on PBS
Real Eyes tells the story of how an eye hospital once dependent on occasional American teams became a center staffed by Guatemalan and Central American specialists.
Watch the documentaryExplore the program
Fellowship
Two years of high-volume surgical training with Guatemalan and international subspecialists.
Faculty positions
Full- and part-time roles for ophthalmologists who want to operate, teach and lead.
Grand Rounds & education
Weekly Grand Rounds every Wednesday at 7 PM Guatemala time, plus the video archive.
Fellows & staff
The ophthalmologists and fellows caring for patients at COLF today.
Department of Ophthalmology
How each leadership role pairs a Guatemalan leader with an international partner.
New eye center
Renderings, a floor-by-floor guide and progress updates on the building opening in 2028.
Support COLF
Gifts to the Hospital de la Familia Foundation support patient care, fellowship training and the new eye center.
To direct your gift to COLF, select “La Familia Eye Center” when prompted.
Major supporters
- Alcon
- Americares
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Services
- CorneaGen
- Glaukos Corporation
- Kentucky Eye Bank
- New World Medical
- Rotary Club
- San Diego Eye Bank
- SEE International
Información para pacientes
Este sitio es para el equipo del programa. Para citas y toda la información de atención, comuníquese con Hospital de la Familia.
Patients: this site is for program staff and partners. For appointments, please call or visit the Hospital de la Familia website or Facebook page.
Citas
Llamadas+502 4515 0262
WhatsApp+502 5853 8477
Correo: hospitalfamilia@hotmail.com
Horario de atención: consulte la página de Facebook del hospital.
Ningún paciente se queda sin atención por falta de recursos.
No patient is turned away for inability to pay.
Ubicación
Hospital de la Familia
6ta avenida 04-056, zona 1
Nuevo Progreso, San Marcos, Guatemala
Cómo llegar desde Pajapita
Distancia y tiempo aproximado: __ km, __ minutos
En carro: ruta paso a paso
En bus o microbús: dónde tomarlo, cada cuánto sale, costo del pasaje
Costos
Precios en quetzales. Si no puede pagar el costo completo, pregunte por las opciones de apoyo.
| Servicio | Costo | Notas |
|---|---|---|
| Consulta general | Q ___ | |
| Consulta con subespecialista | Q ___ | |
| Examen de la vista (optometría) | Q ___ | |
| Estudios diagnósticos (OCT, campo visual, ecografía) | Q ___ | |
| Cirugía de catarata | Q ___ | incluye lente |
| Cirugía de glaucoma | Q ___ | |
| Pterigión | Q ___ | |
| Cirugía de retina | Q ___ | |
| Estrabismo y cirugía pediátrica | Q ___ | |
| Anteojos (óptica) | desde Q ___ |
Comprehensive Ophthalmology Fellowship
Anterior segment, glaucoma and cornea. A two-year, full-time program for ophthalmologists from Guatemala and across Latin America.
Program overview
COLF provides clinical and surgical eye care to patients from western Guatemala and southern Chiapas, Mexico. Its international fellowship prepares ophthalmologists to diagnose, manage and treat the complex glaucoma, corneal and anterior segment disease common in the region.
Fellows build clinical judgment and surgical skill through high surgical volume, a mix of collaborative and independent decision-making, and guidance from Guatemalan and international faculty.
Fellowship at a glance
| Length | 24 months, full time |
|---|---|
| Start dates | January 1 and June 1 |
| Stipend | About Q17,000 per month. The amount depends on several factors and does not include non-salary benefits. |
| Benefits | Room and board, a completion bonus after the second year, and annual travel support for one approved professional meeting |
| On completion | Certificate of fellowship |
Training and international learning
International ophthalmologists teach and supervise on site for about 10 to 14 weeks each year, alongside COLF’s Guatemalan faculty. Throughout the program, fellows take part in:
- Weekly Grand Rounds with surgical and clinical case presentations
- Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC) materials
- Journal clubs sponsored by U.S. faculty
- At least 25 conferences or webinars a year, including Cybersight
- A goal of 40 hours of continuing medical education a year
- Written progress reviews from faculty
- One international ophthalmology meeting each year
Research
Each fellow completes at least one research project and is encouraged to present it at regional or international meetings and to pursue publication.
Program directors
Dr. Claudia Terraza, Co-Director, COLF
Dr. Melanie Gil, Co-Director, COLF
Dr. Andrew Sorenson, Co-Chair, COLF Department of Ophthalmology
Dr. Jorge Hernández, Co-Chair, COLF Department of Ophthalmology
Who should apply
The fellowship is demanding and suits candidates ready for intensive clinical and surgical training. Applicants need:
- A completed ophthalmology residency
- A Guatemalan medical license
- Broad ophthalmology training and clinical experience
- A documented surgical volume of 60 to 100 cases, including phacoemulsification, ECCE and SICS
- Certification from supervisors of basic surgical competency
- The ability to submit all application materials in English
- Availability for a five-day observational visit at COLF
How to apply
Send these materials, in English, to the fellowship coordinator at lafamiliaeyecenter@hdlff.org:
- Curriculum vitae
- Cover letter describing your interest in the fellowship
- Three letters of recommendation
To arrange the required five-day observational visit, contact the Eye Center Coordinator at coordinacioncolf@hospitaldelafamilia.org.
| Application deadline | Start date |
|---|---|
| October 1 | January 1 |
| March 1 | June 1 |
Application coordinator: Jolie Willson
Selection committee
Like every part of the department, the committee pairs Guatemalan and international faculty in the fellow selection process.
Guatemala: Dr. Jorge Hernández, Dr. Melanie Gil, Dr. Claudia Terraza
International: Dr. Kanika Agarwal, Dr. Geoff Emerick, Dr. Seema Capoor
Alumni
- Claudia Terraza (Guatemala), 2022–2024
- Pamela Ruano (Guatemala), 2023–2025
- Mariana Martínez (Mexico), 2024–2026
- Ana Paula Cevallos (Ecuador), 2024–2026
- Melanie Gil (Guatemala), years
- María Isabel Matheu (Guatemala), years
Four alumni now serve on COLF staff.
Teach. Operate. Lead.
COLF invites ophthalmologists with independent surgical experience and a calling to teach to join the faculty, full or part time.
Your experience can shape the next generation
Faculty supervise fellows in clinic and the OR, lead case reviews and morbidity and mortality conferences, take part in Grand Rounds and help develop clinical protocols. Ophthalmology residents from California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco also rotate at COLF.
Priority areas: cataract, glaucoma, cornea, anterior segment and retina.
Schedules: full or part time, with hours and conditions agreed with each candidate.
What we offer: compensation matched to experience, time commitment and responsibilities. Depending on the arrangement, housing, meals, transport and continuing medical education may be included.
Visiting faculty and eye teams
International ophthalmologists also teach at COLF on short visits, operating alongside Guatemalan staff and fellows. Visits are coordinated with the Foundation’s eye team program.
Contact: eyeteams@hdlff.org
See upcoming team datesGrand Rounds & education
Open teaching sessions that connect COLF fellows and staff with faculty in Guatemala, the United States and beyond.
Weekly Grand Rounds
Every Wednesday evening, fellows and faculty present cases from COLF and discuss them with an international panel. Sessions are online and open to ophthalmologists, residents and students who register.
Coordinated by Dr. Eric Poulsen and Dr. Melanie Gil, with Guatemalan and international faculty taking turns as moderators. COLF faculty and fellows present alongside ophthalmology residents from Visualiza in Guatemala City.
Held online, in English.
Wednesdays
7:00 PM Guatemala time (GMT−6)
7:00 PM in Guatemala is 5:00 PM Pacific in winter and 6:00 PM Pacific in summer.
Educational initiatives
Video Rounds
Surgical video review led by Dr. Kanika Agarwal.
BCSC course
Board-style review for fellows, led by Dr. Aimée Edell.
Journal Club
Fellows present and critique current literature in sessions sponsored by U.S. faculty.
Research
Every fellow completes at least one research project drawing on COLF’s patient volume and is encouraged to present and publish it.
International rotations
Fellow rotations in Kentucky, Colorado and the San Francisco Bay Area, coordinated by Dr. Seema Capoor.
Newsletter
News from COLF for faculty and supporters, edited by Rebecca Janik. Sign up at the bottom of the Foundation’s home page.
Quality improvement
A joint committee of nursing, anesthesia, medicine, research, hospital leadership, COLF directors and department chairs reviews never events, morbidity and mortality, cancellations and infections.
Fellows & staff
The Guatemalan and Latin American ophthalmologists caring for patients at COLF every day.
Current fellows
Staff ophthalmologists and optometry
Management
Department of Ophthalmology
An international program runs on two kinds of leadership at once. At COLF, nearly every role is shared by a leader in Guatemala and a partner abroad.
Why two leaders per role
Guatemalan leaders are on site year-round. They see the patients, run the operating rooms, supervise fellows and make the daily decisions that keep the center working.
International partners bring subspecialty depth that is hard to find in rural Guatemala. They teach on visits and online, review difficult cases, open doors to training and research networks in the U.S., and help secure equipment and supplies.
The model in one sentence
Guatemalans lead the center; international colleagues stand beside them as mentors and partners, not as visitors who run it.
Leadership
Co-Chairs, Department of Ophthalmology
Set the department’s direction, recruit faculty and fellows, and represent COLF to its partners.
In Guatemala
Dr. Jorge Hernández
Connects COLF to Guatemala’s ophthalmology community and training programs, and leads recruitment of Guatemalan surgeons.
From the U.S.
Dr. Andy Sorenson, California
Leads international faculty, volunteer teams and fundraising, drawing on decades of eye team work at the hospital.
COLF Directors
Run clinical care, surgical scheduling and the fellowship day to day.
In Guatemala
Dr. Claudia Terraza
Clinical and surgical leadership; co-chief of cataract.
In Guatemala
Dr. Melanie Gil
Clinical and academic leadership; co-chief of glaucoma.
Co-Chairs, Optometric Services and Strategy
Shape how COLF delivers refraction, optometric care and clinical education as patient volume grows.
In Guatemala
Dr. Milka López confirm
Leads optometric care and the optometry team day to day; co-chief of optometry.
From the U.S.
Dr. Rupert Chowins, OD, San Luis Obispo, California
Guides optometric services strategy and clinical education, teaching on visits and remotely.
Management
Keep the center operating within the hospital.
COLF
Jeanny Bautista
COLF General Manager: staffing, budget, supplies and patient flow.
Hospital de la Familia
Hospital General Manager
Coordinates shared hospital services such as nursing, anesthesia and facilities.
Subspecialty co-chiefs
Each subspecialty pairs a COLF surgeon with an international subspecialist who teaches, mentors and reviews cases.
| Subspecialty | Guatemala | International |
|---|---|---|
| Glaucoma | Dr. Melanie Gil | Dr. Geoff Emerick |
| Cataract | Dr. Claudia Terraza | Dr. Kanika Agarwal |
| Retina | Dr. Isabel Matheu | Dr. Jesse Jung |
| Cornea | Dr. Katherine López | Dr. Seema Capoor |
| Refractive | — | Dr. Eric Poulsen |
| Pediatric | — | Dr. Sarah Eppley, Dr. Azam Qureshi, Dr. Chowins |
| Optometry | Dr. Milka López | Dr. Rupert Chowins |
| Neuro-ophthalmology | — | Scott Sorenson |
Faculty roster
COLF faculty
| Dr. Melanie Gil | Glaucoma and anterior segment |
| Dr. María Isabel Matheu | Retina |
| Dr. Katherine Becerra | Retina |
| Dr. Claudia Terraza | Anterior segment |
| Dr. Luis Chocón | Comprehensive ophthalmology |
International faculty
| Area | Faculty |
|---|---|
| Cornea | Dr. Seema Capoor University of Kentucky Dr. Pulin Shah New Orleans, Louisiana Dr. Kanika Agarwal Mass Eye and Ear Dr. Andy Sorenson Bay Area, California |
| Glaucoma | Dr. George Tanaka Bay Area, California Dr. Jorge Hernández Guatemala Dr. Geoff Emerick University of Connecticut Dr. Malik Kahook University of Colorado Dr. Rodolfo Pérez Lima, Peru |
| Retina | Dr. Jesse Jung East Bay Retina Dr. Dan Brinton East Bay Retina Dr. Soraya Rofagha East Bay Retina |
| Anterior segment | Dr. Phil Penrose Monterey, California Dr. Bob Sorenson Bay Area, California Dr. Steven Pascal Bay Area, California |
| Refractive surgery | Dr. Eric Poulsen Fresno, California |
| Optometric services and clinical education | Dr. Rupert Chowins, OD San Luis Obispo, California Maggie Carlson, RN Oregon |
Ophthalmology residents from Visualiza in Guatemala City also take part in COLF teaching.
Shared committees
Fellowship selection: three Guatemalan and three international faculty choose each class together. See the committee
Quality improvement: hospital, nursing and department leaders review outcomes together. Learn more
Education: initiative leads in both countries run Grand Rounds, video rounds, board review and rotations. See initiatives
Institutional partners
Hospital de la Familia, Nuevo Progreso
Hospital de la Familia Foundation, U.S.
CPMC Ophthalmology, San Francisco
Visualiza, Guatemala City
The new eye center
A 4,200 m² eye and surgery center that brings clinics, surgery, teaching and housing together in one building, with room to grow toward 10,000 surgeries a year.
Renderings by SOLCOL
Timeline
October 2026
Architectural renderings released.
January 2027
Construction planned to begin.
December 2028
Expected completion.
Help build it
Gifts to the Hospital de la Familia Foundation fund construction. Select “La Familia Eye Center” when prompted.
Support the new centerFloor by floor
- 1Clinics
Lobby and eye exams
Reception and cashier, a waiting area for 58 people, optometry and ophthalmology exam lanes, a diagnostic and consultation bay, a laser room, pharmacy, optical shop and administration offices. Outside: a children’s area, chapel, snack area and doctors’ parking.
- 2Surgery
Operating rooms
Two operating rooms with three surgical stations each and a dedicated retina operating room, pre-operative and recovery areas around a central nurse station, sterile processing, a staff lounge and lockers, a resident office, and 146 m² reserved for future expansion.
- 3Community
Teaching and shared life
A conference room and library for teaching, a dining room and kitchen, a garden courtyard, a gym, a daycare and three guest rooms.
- 4Housing
Residences
Fifteen private rooms with their own bathrooms, many with balconies, for fellows and visiting faculty.
- 5Rooftop
Recreation
Rooftop sports courts and an open area for group exercise.