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Guatemala Health Initiative GHI Fund
GHI is celebrating 20 years of impact and collaboration

Harvesting coffee
Celebrating 20 years
In 2025, we celebrate 20 years of "GHI". Founded in 2004 by Penn students and Drs. Judith Fisher and Kent Bream. GHI partners with Hospitalito Atitlán and Asociación K'aslimaal to improve community health. Dr. Fran Barg joined in 2006, expanding mentoring, educational, and research programs.

In 2007 our program added new institutions with 4 Guatemalan Universities hosting bidirectional student and faculty exchanges:
*University of Rafael Landivar
*University of Francisco Marroquin
*University of San Carlos
*University of the Valley.

In our quick 20 years GHI has hosted, published, presented, or earned:
*317 students with bidirectional exchange,
*22 thesis research projects,
*14 peer-reviewed articles by GHI students and partners,
*12 inter/national academic meeting presentations.
*11 inter/national fellowships and prizes (Thouron, Fulbright, Wellstone, Rogers, Kean)
*More than 27 doctoral degrees (PhD, MD, DSN, DPH)
*$585,500 in grants, gifts, and revenues for travel and program support
https://tinyurl.com/GHIPub
Leading the next 20 years- GHI's priorities:
**Maya School of Nursing**: Opened in January 2025, training 30 auxiliary nurses annually. We aim to raise $10,000 to support educational collaboration to enhance nursing education.

**JUNAM Global Health Fellowship**: Offering 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year fellowships. A 3-month fellowship costs $5,000; we seek to fund two fellows in 2025-2026.

**Bidirectional Exchanges**: Supporting faculty and student travel between Penn and Guatemala. We plan to host three Guatemalan guests in AY 2026, raising $10,000.

In addition to these 3 priorities, the anniversary funds will provide for pilot research funds, community service activities, meetings, and GHI operations.
Maltiox - Gracias - Thank you - Sustaining community development
Maltiox. With your support Penn GHI has transformed lives and communities.
Our rural and maternal-child collaborations ensure safer childbirth; summer programs shape careers; and faculty and CME initiatives advance research. Your support has made this impact possible.

GHI thrives today thanks to donors, NIH grants, and Penn's support. Thank you for 20 years of partnership in changing global health. Thank you for making a difference.

(If you would like to use your gift to highlight one of the GHI programs, when donating select the option "tally your gift under another person" and enter the program name: "Nursing Program", "Bidirectional Exchanges", "JUNAM Fellowship", or "Supporting Projects".)
Exciting New Collaborative Projects!
GHI and our partners are launching innovative initiatives to expand healthcare and education:
  • Implementing an EMR
  • Understanding Liver Disease
  • Building Antibiograms
  • Growing the JUNAM Fellowship
  • Training Maya nurses
  • Exploring neurodiversity
  • Starting an FM Residency
  • Univ. Raf. Landivar Exchanges
Donation messages
In honor of Santiago Smith Vidal --Nathan Smith
So very thankful for this program! I was able to be a part of this in 2023 and I've been dreaming about returning to Guatemala ever since --Brittany C
Forever training --Dr. Bianca Jenkins
What a truly rewarding experience that I had on this trip in 2018! I hope this will help others share the same experience that I value so much to this day. --Mr. cameron Bream
GHI is an incredible organization that has done so much for the community of Santiago Atitlan! It is also a life changing experience for us as students. The lessons I have learned from my time here have cultivated a deeper sense of resilience and appreciation for community building. Maltiox! --Heta Patel
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Celebrating 25 Years of Partnership and Growth
Participation Goal 100 Donors
  [Young] Drs Martinez and Ramirez  
Recent donations (37 donations)
Name DescendingX Amount
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Brittany C $50.00
Dr. Christina Roldan $100.00
Dr. Andrew Renuart $100.00
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Top donors (37 donations)
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lagarry@upenn.edu | Leigh Anne Garry, Director of Business Process Integration and Technology Training | 215.746.8840
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