Medical -
Medical services and supplies are desperately needed in the free General Hospital and in the remote villages we serve.
In addition to our ongoing projects - Tiny Hearts, Project C.U.R.E International Projects (shipping containers full of donated medical equipment from the US) and the Rotary International End Polio Now! campaign - we provide:
- Health Kits to the caregivers of the children in the General Hospital
- Health Kits to the children in our village schools
- Supports and services to visiting medical, dental and vision teams that provide needed care to the communities,
- A small repository for durable medical equipment such as crutches and wheelchairs
- Support for Rotary International events - such as Hepatitis Zero Days
Dental -
For many children in the Yucatán Peninsula, access to dental care is limited, with some receiving their first-ever treatment only when volunteers step in.
Annually, Seaside Rotary / Dr. Buttermore partners with Global Dental Relief for a one week clinic to treat underserved local school children and youth with much needed dental care. Global Dental Relief provides the volunteer dentists, hygienists and dental assistants to provide the dental care. Seaside Rotary provides local logistics; transportation/buses to the field clinic in Akumal and volunteer coordination.
Patients are brought to clinic class by class from local schools. During their visit, each child receives a dental exam, a cleaning when possible, and all needed restorations and extractions to ensure they are restored to full dental health. If needed, children are called back for multiple visits during the week to complete the full treatment plan.
During the 2025 clinic, a total of 722 patients were treated, with the total “value of care” being over $145,000 USD.
Vision -
Seaside Rotary supports Rotary International vision projects such as providing glasses to those in need.
Dra. Vicky Moro Flores Sr.
Vicky oversees our Tiny Hearts ongoing Project, is a pediatrician at Hospiten (a private hospital), volunteers part time pediatric services at the free General Hospital, speaks several languages, volunteers and provides bilingual coordination and onsite help for Seaside Rotary Fundraisers and Volunteer Opportunities - all while raising a young son with her husband. She is a gentle force of nature and an inspiration to us all!
Dr. Julia Buttermore
Julia, and her husband Rod (not pictured), have coordinated with Global Dental Relief for many years to bring free dental services 1-2 times a year to children all along the Quintana Roo tourism corridor - from Cancun to Tulum. Julia, Rod and other Seaside Rotary members also travel to parts of South America to provide GDR support. Julia and Rod do community outreach and dental education programs at the local schools throughout their time here in Playa del Carmen.
Dr. Margaret Smyth
Happily retired with her husband and living in the iconic Paamul area (made famous by the Snoop Dogg beach commercials), Margaret, along with Seaside Rotary member Teresa Cleaver, has overseen Seaside Rotary's Fundraiser events for years. The dynamic duo make the magic happen year after year! Margaret also oversees the medical health bag distributions to ensure that the bags are age appropriate and safe for the recipients to use.
