LOUISVILLE PHYSICIANS TAKE HEALTH
MISSION TO NICARAGUA
Twenty-two physicians, nurses and health care volunteers recently
visited Managua, Nicaragua, to bring essential medical care to patients in need.
This annual trip, which has taken place every year since 2006, is
sponsored by the GLMS Foundation in partnership with Hand in
Hand Ministries, a Louisville non-profit which operates the Pathway
to Change program for the underprivileged in Nicaragua.
The volunteers came from a variety of different backgrounds to spend
a week in Nicaragua and tend to hundreds of patients including
children, parents and the elderly. With them, they took a variety of
essential medical supplies including obstetrics kits for child birth
and antibiotics. Team members also carried additional suitcases
packed with 50 pounds of medical supplies each when they left
Louisville International Airport on Jan. 18.
Timir Banarjee, MD, was one of several veteran volunteers coming
back to the trip this year. “Our time over there is going very well.
There has been tremendous progress since my first visit to the area
five years ago. There’s still very much to do though.”
Also returning this year was Manuel Grimaldi, MD. A native Spanish
speaker, Dr. Grimaldi’s abilities as a translator have made him a vital
asset to physicians who make the journey. “I’ve been so privileged
to serve as a volunteer for the last five years. We went there with
the mission of taking care of Nicaraguan children. Then we began
to take care of their families, their neighbors, everyone.”
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Sheridan Langford, MD
Sarah Landes, MD
Ildiko Mikos, MD
Mary Jo Wherry, RN
Tricia Irvine, MD
Shan Biscette, MD
Linda Shiber, MD
Sarah Acland, MD
Pamela Carter
Genny Gerow
Dorothy Higgins
Jane Howland
Courtney Nanney
Denise Puthuff, MD, Missions Committee Chair, wishes to express
the Foundation’s appreciation for support from Kosair Charities,
KentuckyOne Healthcare, Norton Healthcare and the generosity of
physicians who enable us to deliver the most basic health care to
underserved communities.
There are also many needs locally and regionally where physicians
have the opportunity to make a difference. For more information,
we invite you to contact GLMS Foundation Director Terry Todd if you
are interested in medical mission at the local, state, or international
levels by e-mailing [email protected] or 502-736-6356.
This year’s volunteers included:
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Beau Bailey, MD
Timir Banerjee, MD
Manuel Grimaldi, MD
Goetz Kloecker, MD
Mary Lou Reichert, MD
Cynthia Rigby, MD
Brandon Watson, MD
Hermys Yanes-Boza, RN
John McCurdy, MD
GLMS NEWS FEBRUARY 2015
Volunteers each carried 50 lbs of medical supplies for the Nicaraguan mission.
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