About Global Health Initiatives

Global Health Initiatives (GHI) is on a mission to improve lives around the globe by providing high quality health care and collaborating with local partners to strengthen health systems in developing countries.  Strong local partners are a key to our success as health care is most effective when carried out in a sustainable, culturally-sensitive way by members and institutions of the local community. 

A large part of our work is accomplished through short-term medical missions which provides free surgical, primary care and health education programs. Teams of health care providers and administrators travel to our partner facilities in order provide these services.

GHI’s role is to ultimately strengthen our local partners to better serve their own communities.  We do this by assessing community health and partner facility needs, and developing interventions that increases local capacity to promote health. This is accomplished through health prevention and education activities, direct clinical care, sharing of material resources, partnering with local organizations, and teaching and mentoring clinical and non-clinical providers and administrators.

GHI is currently working in Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Meet Our Global Health Initiatives Team

Greg Hodgson Greg in a town outside GHI’s partner hospital in Rwanda.

Greg Hodgson, Executive Director
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Greg Hodgson, the founder of GHI, has extensive experience in international project management. After completing a graduate degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University, Greg served as Vice President for Operations & Engineering at Adventist World Radio. He has managed projects in over 30 countries, and speaks several languages. Under Greg’s leadership, GHI has grown from its start in 2005 to include projects in five countries and engaged over 2,000 volunteers. 

Dave Watson Dr. Watson and his daughter, with a Nepali patient he helped during a GHI mission.

Dave Watson, MD, Chief Medical Officer
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Dr. Watson serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Global Health Initiatives. Partnering with health care organizations and facilities within several overseas countries such as Peru, Rwanda, Nepal, Tanzania, Puerto Rico and Cuba he works with GHI to extend the healing ministry of Christ by strengthening existing health facilities and services in developing countries, and by nurturing the health of the people in those communities through local partnerships.

Kim Kennedy Kim in Dhulikel, Nepal during a GHI mission.

Kim Kennedy, Development Officer
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Kim went on her first Global Health Initiatives trip in 2007 while her family lived in Iquitos, Peru for the summer. Since then she’s been a frequent Nepal and Peru volunteer and financial supporter of GHI. As a Development Officer for GHI, Kim is on a mission to inspire joyful giving that transform lives by loving God and serving people. Kim thrives in sharing the impact of GHI’s work to individuals who have a passion for the poor and vulnerable.

kristen carroll Kristen with her daughter at Machu Picchu during a recent GHI mission to Peru.

Kristen Carroll, Travel Coordinator
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Kristen first heard of GHI while working as a physical therapist at Littleton Adventist Hospital in 2008. She was inspired by the idea of helping people in underserved communities around the world have the same access to health care that we are lucky enough to have here in the States. When the GHI Travel Coordinator position became available she jumped at the chance to be a part of this mission. She enjoys meeting GHI’s trip participants, sharing in their excitement for the trip, and ensuring that the week goes as smoothly as possible.