Dra. Marissabel Casas Marroquín
Dra. Marissa’s Story
Dra. Marissabel Casas Marroquín (Dra. Marissa), born in 1983, is a medically trained doctor from Mexico City who spent eight years working in some of the most remote villages in southern Mexico, in the state of Chiapas. Oaxaca and Chiapas are #1 and #2 in being the Mexican states with the least access to health care. She joined the Clinica del Pueblo team, as the CEO, in January of 2023.
When asked about when she knew she wanted to be a doctor, she shared: “While I was studying high school, I took a subject called Health Sciences; my teachers were a couple, both doctors. They applied a pedagogy that was new to me at that time: physical activation 15 minutes before classes, theory practice, and art at the end. They demonstrated to us many clinical cases. They were both researchers, too.”
“At that time, they were my first reference to a medical figure different from the classic image of the coat and stethoscope. And I, who before that was convinced that I wanted to be an architect, knew that I wanted to do what they did. A few months later, they invited me to a community brigade in communities in the Huasteca of Hidalgo; There I learned about public health activism; I was convinced, that I no longer just wanted to do what my teachers did, I wanted to be what that entire group of community doctors was, because I got to know their actions outside of the doctor offices and hospitals.”
Since her arrival, she has reiterated a clear and bold vision to continue to reach out to those most in need. In Oaxaca, there are villages that take more than 12 hours to reach. It is critical that Clinica has outreach programs to get out to the people, in addition to running a modern and patient-centered hospital. Thus, as a core part of her strategy, she has emphasized the work both within and outside the walls of the hospital, which she mentioned as one of the core reasons she studied medicine. With your support and her vision, it is clear that Clinica’s work will reach tens of thousands in preventative care, improving the quality of life, even before needing to access a clinic or hospital.
While vision and strategy are priority components, Dra. Marissa has also demonstrated administrative chops and team-building skills to ensure that the hospital’s resources are prioritized to serve the economically poor. The Clínica is open 24/7 and employs 60 collaborators, including specialists, M.Ds., nurses, X-ray tech, optometrists, social workers, community health workers, along support staff.
In a recent interview, Dra. Marissa later shared a reflection in Spanish, which I have translated here: “The missions with the greatest achievements usually start with a single person (like Father Scott), and it is known that he alone will not be able to advance much, so everything possible is done to spread the actions in favor of the mission; That is what leaders do, be seekers of convictions, who become followers of the Mission.”
At TASH, we are very happy to have such a talented professional like Dra. Marissa, leading the Clinica towards its 25th anniversary.
