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Reviewed by: aarondztan
on 08/12/10:
Mission
Founded in 1989, Global Links is a medical relief and development organization dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship and improving health in developing countries.
Global Links’ collaborative efforts include:
1. Sharing expertise and technical knowledge with international and domestic partners.
2. Redirecting still useful materials away from U.S. landfills to public health improvement efforts in targeted countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
3. Educating partners and volunteers on issues of global health and environmental stewardship.
Key Facts
Geographic areas served:
Global Links partners with clinics and hospitals in nine countries across Latin America and the Caribbean: Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica and Nicaragua. Global Links also serves the greater Pittsburgh community through our environmental stewardship in healthcare program and our community outreach and education program.
Target demographics:
We work with medically underserved communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Also, we support U.S. healthcare facilities in their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their operations.
Results to date:
Since its inception in 1989, Global Links has recovered over 3,500 tons of still-useful medical materials and has donated over $168 million worth of goods to hospitals and clinics in 70 countries.
Direct beneficiaries per year: Thousands of patients who have access to higher quality medical care as a result of the strategic donations of medical materials by Global Links. Thirty plus healthcare facilities in the U.S. with whom we partner to achieve more environmentally responsible operations. 45+ medical service trip teams traveling from the Pittsburgh area to donate their medical services around the world whom we provide with medical supplies.
Indirect beneficiaries per year: Hundreds of medical personnel overseas who are better able to deliver needed care to their patients. 1700+ community members and volunteers in the U.S. whom we educate on issues of international health and development and who engage in projects to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Obstacles:
Funding constraints for the costs of general operations and to maintain and enhance existing programs.
With 3 hours a volunteer can:
Make a practical contribution to our operations while at the same time learning about global health inequities; pack boxes of needed medical supplies; clean and prep hospital furnishings for an upcoming shipment; clean and match crutches to send to Haiti; lead a collection for needed supplies at their workplace, school, or place of worship; attend a tour of our facilities to learn more about our mission and operations.
Your donation of $75 enables us to:
Deliver a life-saving nebulizer for asthma treatment.
Your donation of $100 enables us to:
Deliver a case of ten refurbished blood pressure units.
Your donation of $500 enables us to:
Deliver a fetal Doppler to monitor tiny hearts.
Board Members and Affiliation:
Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, M.D., CHAIR, Asst. Professor, Global Health OB/GYN and Reproductive Biology, UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University
Jeffrey Ford, C.P.A., VICE CHAIR, Partner, Grossman, Yanak, & Ford
Charles Vargo, TREASURER, Executive Director, The Washington Physician Hospital Organization, Inc.
Rev. Eugene F. Lauer, S.T.D., SECRETARY, Pastoral and Theological Ministry
Lauren Ackerman, Johnson Institute, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh
Amy Davis, Director of Accounting, Sylvan Energy
Mimi Falbo, RN, MSN, Executive Consultant, Mimi Falbo LLC
Kathleen G. Hower, Chief Executive Officer, Co-founder, Global Links
Daniel Kovalik, Associate General Counsel, United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO (USW)
Miguel Marquez, M.D., Pan American Health Organization, retired
Gregory K. Peaslee, Senior Vice President, UPMC, Chief Human Resources and Administrative Service Officer
Patricia Rambasek, CFRE, Community Leader
Robin Sheldon, Associate University Counsel, Thomas Jefferson University
Barry L. Silverman, Technology Consultant
Mahmood Mike Usman, MD, Usman Neuropsychiatric Services
Daniel T. Wagner , R.Ph., MBA , Pharm. D., Owner, Nutri-Farmacy
Past and Current Funders:
The Atlantic Philanthropies
The Benter Foundation
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
GlaxoSmithKline
The International Foundation
Pan American Health Organization
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Key Staff
Kathleen Hower, Chief Executive Officer, Co-founder
Angela Garcia, Deputy Director
David Davis, Warehouse and Logistics Manager
Hayley Doering, Medical Outreach Manager
Christina Gerstel, Volunteer Program Manager
Jennifer Novelli, Community Outreach Manager
Patti Skillin, Program Officer, South and Central America
Marisol Wandiga, Program Officer, Caribbean Region
Eileen J. Weiner, Esq., Director of Organizational Initiatives
Ellen Wilson, Suture Program Manager, Website Administrator