Zapopan, Jalisco, October 6, 2025.—Students in the Innovation and Design Engineering program at the Universidad Panamericana Guadalajara Universidad Panamericana , guided by Dr. Fabiola Cortés Chávez and in collaboration with Ixim, a midwives’ movement in Chiapas, are moving forward with the third phase of the project Camilla Julieta, an initiative aimed at improving care for natural births in indigenous communities and promoting social entrepreneurship.
Building on the lessons learned during the first two phases—one of which was a finalist in the National Design Award: México Diseña—the team developed a modular wooden design that is easy to produce and maintain, and can be manufactured and maintained by women in local communities.
Ixim's support as a key component of the project
Through an annual partnership with Ixim, the organization will provide financial support for prototype development and training for women in carpentry, mold-making, and artisanal production.
One of the places where this venture has made significant progress is in the Tulijá community, as it operates cutting machinery such as an SNC router and handles the sanding, assembly, and lacquering processes.
“The goal is to provide them with designs that are enjoyable, practical, and appealing to use, as well as easy to produce so that they can launch this venture and make something of it,”explained Dr. Cortés Chávez.
However, reaching out to these communities has been a challenge, as barriers such as language, distance, and the fact that we are outsiders have stood in the way. The support of Ixim, with its extensive experience in community work, has facilitated this process by serving as a bridge for communication.
As a result, the project has taken on the nature of applied research, systematically incorporating feedback from the communities in order to optimize the design of the stretchers and ensure their cultural, functional, and social relevance.
The future of the project
Through our partnership with Ixim, we aim to maintain our focus on healthcare and equip existing clinics with the necessary supplies to handle emergencies.
The students began working on this project at the start of the semester and are currently building scale models to move on to the final prototypes, which they are expected to present in late November during the innovation festival Made In UP, where Architecture and Innovation and Design Engineering students showcase their projects and receive feedback on their proposals.
Of the prototypes developed, seven will be sent to Casa Madre Tierra in San Cristóbal de las Casas, where they will be used by local midwives. Ixim will cover the costs so that the winning team can personally deliver the prototypes to Chiapas.
Recognized advances in design
This new version of the Camilla Julieta is not the only one included in the plans developed by Dr. Fabiola Cortés; another version of it has been named a finalist for the National Design Award: México Diseña.
The students currently working on this version of the project are: Nicole Espinosa Morán, Natalia Quirarte Sánchez, Sara Daniela Alba Topete, and Karla Andrea Rodríguez Luna.
In addition to this finalist project, the Universidad Panamericana represented in the same round by a single-use device for performing Pap smears, developed by students María Teresa Sahui Loret de Mola, Paloma Ortiz Chávez, and Andrés Guadalupe Salcedo Cortés.
The Social Commitment of the Universidad Panamericana
With projects such as the Camilla Julieta, the Universidad Panamericana reaffirms its commitment to social innovation, the well-being of vulnerable communities, and women’s health.
These initiatives not only promote sustainable technological solutions, but also foster empathy, social awareness, and the well-rounded development of students.
Learn more about the Universidad Panamericana research activities at: https://www.up.edu.mx/investigacion-noticias/
