We hosted the 5th Annual Community Health Summit in Nicaragua, February 1-8. From San Juan del Sur to Jinotega, it was an inspiring week of learning, sharing, and discussion around ongoing research and health initiatives in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Presentations from some of the attendees included:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Findings from the Global Field (CIFAL Atlanta) -Lolade Owokoniran, MPH
Maternal and Child Health in Los Robles: 5 Years of Collaborative Research (Ohio State, Univ. Of Calgary, Univ. Of Alabama) – Jason DeCaro, PhD
Smoking and Indoor Air Pollution in Nicaragua & Dominican Republic (GA State University) – Doug Gardenhire, PhD
Social determinants of health: (Health Horizons International) – Dr. Eliezer Lappots
Brigadistas: The experience of being a health promoter using photovoice in Montellano, RD. (Kennesaw State University) – Johnathan Steppe, MSN
Comunidad Connect Health Connections Program – Jon Thompson, MSW & Enma Gutiérrez
Special thanks again to the representatives of Health Horizons International, CIFAL Atlanta, and the Universities of Georgia State, Alabama, Kennesaw State, Calgary, Ohio State, and Emory for your contributions and dedication to improving public health. See here for a video slideshow of our favorite moments from the week.
Costa Rica….here we come! In January, Comunidad Connect’s CEO Jon Thompson led a scouting trip to the Alajuela province with professors Emily Buchman, Sujay Galen, and Anne Lorio from the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions of Georgia State University. After visiting with community leaders in the towns of Naranjo and La Fortuna, they began planning the inaugural group of Physical and Occupational Therapy students in January 2021.
This new destination has the “potential to provide OT/PT services to individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities in rural communities in Naranjo, Costa Rica in partnership with Asociación Talita Cumi, improve awareness of the contributions individuals with disabilities can make to the community and explore potential employment opportunities and, provide OT/PT to migrant farmworkers in coffee farms during the peak harvest season“. -Sujay Galen, PhD
Comunidad Connect is ecstatic to bring more partners into the diverse community of stakeholders in the USA and abroad. Here is a gallery of photos from the experience.
Save the date! Our inaugural Golf Tournament is Monday, April 27, hosted by Smoke Rise Country Club in Stone Mountain, GA. Click here to register or become a sponsor. Contact us at info@comunidadconnect.org or (404) 444-9147 with inquires. We look forward to seeing you there!
You are cordially invited to join us in Nicaragua this July for an unforgettable service learning journey. Whether you are eager to return or want to visit for the first time, this family-family opportunity is just what you have been waiting for. We are offering three travel dates: July 11-18, July 18-25, and July 25- Aug.1.
Contact us at info@comunidadconnect.org or (404)444-9147 for more information.
