Sebastiana Pol Suy is unlike any other. A gifted medicine woman, Sebastiana serves from the heart, however she can, to help heal her local community and the global community. Alongside Guatemalan and North American Global Healthworks Foundation (GHF) team members, she works to create the most uplifting and empowering treatment experience possible for each patient she meets. We are honored to have her as part of our team.
Ángel Solís’ Love of Acupuncture and Drive to Help Heal His Community
Ángel Solís began working with Global Healthworks Foundation (GHF) in 2015. From van driver to Mobile Clinic Coordinator, Ángel has become one of GHF’s most reliable team members. He is currently studying acupuncture in the hopes of expanding holistic healthcare to even more communities in the near future.
From Ballet to Bodywork: Kelley Boyd’s Journey to Massage and Service in Guatemala
Kelley Boyd is a licensed massage therapist who has volunteered on two medical missions with Global Healthworks Foundation. With a gentle and loving spirit, Kelley creates a sense of comfort and calm with each patient who lies on her table. It has been an absolute pleasure to have her on our GHF practitioner team.
Spencer Krueger: Massage Therapist and Belly Massage Extraordinaire
Spencer Krueger is an energetic registered massage therapist who has volunteered on many medical outreach missions with Global Healthcare Foundation since 2014. She combines her skills in athletic training and manual therapy to provide high quality treatments to people in need. It has been a pleasure having her join our GHF practitioner team.
Soccer Mom Julie Ing Stern’s Mix of Humor and Professionalism
Teresa Wlasiuk Is Hooked on GHF Jornadas and Medical Outreach Work
What Teresa Wlasiuk brings to the table during each and every treatment is invaluable – she is an inspiration for other Chinese medicine practitioners! Even though she already has quite a set of tools that she brings to bear in every treatment, she is continuing her doctorate studies in order to expand her reach with patients on an even deeper level. We are glad to have her high level of dedication on our GHF practitioner team!
Gastón Olsen Goes Deep with Massage Patients in Quiché
Norva Bennett’s Heart-Centered, Human-to-Human Connection
With a great mixture of treatment and organization skills, our good friend Norva Bennett has been a great asset to GHF’s outreach work in Guatemala. She is a dependable alumni volunteer with six trips under her belt – and her greatest strength is her ability to exist in the moment with her patients.
Jornada Interpreters Facilitate More Than Just Communication
GHF’s local team of interpreters play a huge role in the success of our medical outreach work in Guatemala. They do a fantastic job translating four languages: English, Spanish and two of the indigenous Mayan dialects – K'iche' and Ixil. They are a true asset to their communities, and we are incredibly grateful for all they do for our outreach teams and the Guatemalan people.
Spanish Speaker Felipa López Works Independently and with Compassion
It has been GREAT having Felipa López join GHF on a few of our medical outreach trips. Of course, it helps that she is fluent in Spanish and a great practitioner – but Felipa’s real strength comes from her ability to connect with the patients easily and make them feel comfortable and cared for. We are so lucky to have her!
Reflections of a Young Photographer in Quiché, Guatemala
A participant of NYC SALT—a nonprofit organization that seeks to engage, inspire, and empower New York City teens by providing them with professional-grade visual communication skills— Danny Martinez received a travel scholarship to photograph one of Global Healthworks Foundation’s medical mission in Quiché, Guatemala. In addition to photographing the Foundation’s health practitioners and those receiving treatment, Danny participated in a variety of activities, helping with a women’s self-defense class, teaching others about photography, and playing with the local children. As evident from his daily reflections, the trip impacted him on both a professional and deeply personal level.
Las Tres Pajaritas: Magdalena, Maruca, and Rosa Play an Integral Part in GHF Health Promotion
The healthworks of Maruca, Rosa, and Magdalena epitomizes GHF’s efforts to train local health promoters to be fully integrated team members both within our GHF community and in their own communities. The three long-time friends from Sacapulas perform essential clinic functions: Reiki energy healing, auricular acupuncture, massage, and moxibustion heat therapy; and they are a great example for our other promoters. We are extremely grateful that these community leaders continue to be part of our GHF team.
“A Giver Who Gets Things Done”: Kevin Menard’s Swift, Yet Sensitive Style of Treatment
Kevin Menard’s passion for health and wellbeing, along with his generous drive to do medical outreach work, is evident the minute you meet him! His multi-modality treatment approach fits perfectly with the GHF healthcare delivery model, so we are very glad he has joined the GHF team! Thanks Kevin for all your GREAT work! Read all about Kevin’s story with Global Healthworks Foundation below.
Veteran Volunteer Chris O’Connor Builds Morale and Keeps Patients and Practitioners Smiling
Chris O'Connor is a teacher of contemporary acupuncture at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. Whether with patients or students, his relationships are warm, caring and compassionate. He has a great combination of acupuncture and manual therapy skills, and he has been a great, dependable asset to GHF’s volunteer practitioner team.
Kristen Pawlick: From Massage Therapy to Acupuncture to Global Volunteering
Kristen Pawlick is an energetic practitioner who has volunteered on many medical outreach missions with Global Healthcare Foundation since 2013. She combines her skills in athletic training, manual therapy, and acupuncture to provide high quality treatments to people in need. It has been a pleasure having her join our GHF practitioner team.
Movimientos de Sanación: Movement as a Means for Healing and Growth
One of the most popular activities of the Global Healthworks Foundation outreach clinics is the chair yoga class we call ‘movimientos de sanación’ (healing body movements) . It is provided to all our patients – young and old – as preparation for a full, multi-modality treatment that each patient receives from the volunteer practitioners. These fun classes, which include basic yoga, qigong and stretching movements, were specifically designed to encourage patients to practice at-home exercises daily.
The First Step to Organic Farming: Bernadette Martin Teaches the Basics of Composting to the Centro de Paz
Bernadette Martin volunteered on a couple of medical outreach missions with Global Healthworks Foundation – primarily to provide Reiki treatments and Level I and II Reiki classes for the Foundation’s health promoters. But once we knew her background, we were fortunate enough to have her also educate the locals about organic gardening, nutrition, farmer’s markets, and composting. Of course, she excels at everything – so she’s a “keeper”!
A Shepherd for the Lost Sheep: Geordie Numata’s Ability to Heal Society’s Most Vulnerable Populations
A New York based Reiki Master, Geordie Numata has been practicing Reiki energy healing and working as a shamanic healer since 2004. When he joined our GHF medical outreach team to help the underserved people of Guatemala, you could easily sense his wise, virtuous soul amplifying the therapeutic benefits our other practitioners provide. Thanks for all you do, Geordie!
Hands, Cups, and Surfboards: Shannon Gilmartin’s Diverse, Yet Effective Healing Modalities
In October 2015, Shannon Gilmartin helped introduce suction cupping therapy to our GHF health promoters in Quiché, Guatemala – and they simply LOVE using this special treatment modality! Besides being an excellent practitioner and educator, Shannon is incredibly kind and compassionate; And she has one of the biggest and most giving hearts! We are so glad she has joined our GHF team!
Talented, Kind, and Empowering: Terése Wunderlich Shares Her Range of Talents to Better the Lives of Others
Terése Wunderlich shares her array of talents in a way that provides balance and consistency to the GHF jornada team. Whether she’s teaching self-defense to women, practicing yoga with the elderly, or giving belly massages to children, her generous and fun-loving heart brings laughter and joy to both patients and fellow volunteers alike.