HANDS FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
Reaching across borders, touching lives with health
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Many health professions students are only exposed to global health issues during their training, with little opportunity to participate in the planning and delivery of healthcare in a global context. Additionally, many indigenous people in Latin America do not have access to regular, basic health care. We aim to address this by offering opportunities for health professions students to gain these valuable experiences during their training, with the hope that the skills they learn will benefit all of their patients, in their local communities and abroad, while providing needed healthcare to communities in need. We have been serving the same community in rural Panama for over five years because we have a commitment to sustainability and to the people of that community.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Batata Health Clinics
1-2 times/year provide 3-day primary care, ambulatory health care clinic in Batata, Panama for local people to access health care including health assessment, physical exam, physical therapy if indicated, health education, and pharmacy services.
Interprofessional Education Study
Pre- and post- Batata health care clinic study looking at how participation in providing health care in these clinics affects attitudes and skills related to interprofessional education in health care profession students and volunteers
Where we work
External reviews
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We aim to educate health professions' students about high-quality, high-touch, ethical provision of global health. We hope to also improve the health and quality of life in the Batata community in rural Panama who we partner with to provide services.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Conduct short-term medical clinics in Batata. In 2020, we could not have any trips due to travel and quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19. In 2021, we hope to again have three trips to the area or to support Panamanian non-profits to supply basic hygiene supplies to indigenous communities. Trips include basic health screening and health education, while some trips also include physical therapist assessment, building of eco-stoves, and other public health measures such as dentistry or clean water projects.
We partner with universities and colleges training healthcare professions' students to organize trips, advise on logistics, and coordinate with our in-country providers for transportation, lodging, food, and pre-planning. Students are encouraged to take on leadership roles both prior to departure (trip planning and logistics) and in-country during the trip. Current strong relationships exist with Samuel Merritt University and Cal State East Bay.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our Board is actively engaged in global health provision, and work to coordinate trips with interested students at our home institutions. We are working towards growing to partner with more institutions. We have a solid, on-going partnership with a non-profit in Panama, Hands For Americas, who serve as our in-country coordinators.
Because part of our goal is to foster student leadership in these projects, we involve volunteers going on trips and mentor them in the logistics pre-departure, and when in-country we mentor them for leadership roles in the clinic.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have established a connection and commitment from the Batata community. 2021 is our 9th year partnering in the region. We frequently see over 700 community members during our three-day clinics. We have built over 15 eco-stoves and provided over 30 water filtration systems to community members (who are selected by the community to receive these public health measures). We have had over 200 health professions' students volunteer, and have many who come back year after year.
What's next? The Batata community donated land to our in-country partners Hands For Americas in 2017 to build permanent facilities. They have approval from the Panamanian Ministry of Health to build a clinic on the site. We are currently investigating ways to help fund raise for permanent facilities to be built in the community.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
HANDS FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
Board of directorsas of 05/31/2023
Dr. Mike DeRosa
Associate Professor & Chair of Physician Assistant Program, Samuel Merritt University
Term: 2015 - 2022
Sharon Gorman
Samuel Merritt University
Christopher Ayeko
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as: