Connecting people and organizations for greater global impact.
The need in the developing world is great, and it cannot always be met by organizations working independently. HealthWorks Collaborative is the team behind the team — when we collaborate, more good is accomplished.
IN THE NEWS
Jan 2017 – Helping People Help People – Read More in the Esperança Newsletter
April 2017 – A Doctor From Texas and a Doctor From Nicaragua Team Up To Bring Hope – Read More in the Esperança Newsletter
About Us
Our work scales the efforts of international public health organizations by connecting volunteers with organizations and opportunities, providing administrative expertise, and supporting expenses associated with medical supplies and volunteer travel.
While our work is global in scope, our emphasis is on projects in Central and South America. HealthWorks Collaborative focuses on providing public health care including surgery, clean water and improved sanitation, safe cooking methods, health education, and disease prevention to underserved populations.
History
HealthWorks Collaborative began as the SMG Foundation in 1997 with a focus on child care/treatment agencies that operated residential facilities for at-risk children.
In 2011, a new generation of trustees gradually shifted the focus of the Foundation’s work to pediatric surgical trips to Central America. In 2016, the SMG Foundation relaunched as HealthWorks Collaborative, to scale the efforts of international public health organizations by connecting volunteers with organizations and opportunities, providing administrative expertise, and supporting expenses associated with medical supplies and volunteer travel.
Our Team
Bruce Kelling, Executive Director
Brenda Mike, Admin Assistant
Lauren Forman, Trustee
Kristin Kelling, Trustee
Monford D. Custer, III, Trustee
Mon Russell, Trustee
2016 / 2017 Missions
JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA — MEDICAL MISSION
Working with AVODEC, Esperança’s host country partner, HWC assembled a pediatric surgery team from Baylor Scott & White Hospital that travelled to Jinotega, Nicaragua, providing consultation and surgery services to the San Rafael Community Clinic. Dr. Custer and Dr. Mattix completed 37 pediatric consultations, and performed 25 successful surgeries. In 2017, the medical team compelted 55 consultations and 44 surgeries. “The medical trip was a great display of ongoing collaboration between Esperança and HWC, every year the trip gets better. Volunteering is a heart-warming experience,” Dr. Custer reported. The medical team is expecting to return in June 2018.
JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA — WATER PROJECT
In June, HWC kicked off it’s clean water focus with two graduate student volunteers facilitating focus groups and completing household surveys to address clean water issues in several rural Jinotega communities. The volunteers also performed, analyzed, and evaluated the quality of water samples from the participating communities. The ultimate goal is to improve water quality and reduce the dangers of water-borne illness. Ms Ortiz returned in 2017 by completing an in-depth needs assessment in 13 communities.
“I am so grateful for the experience and even more grateful that the work we've done is already having
an impact. I am beyond humbled.”
Anna Ortiz , Graduate Student Volunteer
GUATEMALA — STOVE TEAM MISSION
In mid-March Mr. Kelling, founder of HWC, participated in a mission to Guatemala supported by HELPS International. The team built 142 stoves in five days for Mayans living in the Guatemalan mountains. The Mayans otherwise cook in their modest dwellings using wood burning fires on the floor without adequate ventilation — resulting in serious respiratory issues. Mr. Kelling is hopeful there will be a future opportunity for HWC to undertake its own stove mission to Guatemala.