Over time, I had become frustrated with the expensive treatments these diseases required when they could have been prevented with a lifestyle that encouraged good nutrition and exercise.  But it simply wasn’t happening!

What I discovered was oftentimes people simply didn’t know a healthier way to live.

In addition to this, I was seeing many of these same mistakes being made in developing countries I have traveled to on medical missions trips.  So-called “lifestyle diseases” such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are increasing in prevalence in many countries as they take on western diet and habits.  This shocked me, because many of these countries were dealing with lack of food and tropical diseases not too many years ago!  As economic improvement has occurred, western habits have taken hold, and the scourge of non-communicable diseases has increased.

These observations encouraged me to look beyond what I was currently doing as a physician to focus on what could be done to increase the health of populations and prevent these diseases from occurring in the first place.  This led me to working towards obtaining my Masters in Public Health.  In order to graduate I had to complete a practicum, participating in some type of public health-related project.  Once I discovered International HELP, I knew I had to look no further.  I had found a kindred spirit!  Teaching people to improve the health in their own communities and enact change through training community health workers has been successfully utilized in many countries around the world, and it was obvious to me that International HELP had the mission and vision to do this exceptionally well.  I knew I had to be a part.  I think the vision statement says it all: We envision the end of preventable diseases in underprivileged areas globally through educating and empowering local people to be healthcare leaders, whose impact will change the course of their community.

Dr. Guy Peterson working with patients on a previous medical missions trip in Nicaragua.

My current project is with a local church in Tonacatepeque, El Salvador where needs for community health workers have been established.  We are currently assessing what the felt health needs are in the community, as well as what the prevalence of disease is, and comparing this to more national data looking at overall causes of morbidity and mortality.  With this data all brought together we will be able to assemble a curriculum to train community health workers to address both the felt health needs within the community as well as other serious factors leading to premature death.  These community health workers will then have the knowledge and confidence to be health resources in their community, as well as to have the respect of their community after obtaining this training.  They will be like a fire started, small at first, but with the power to spread while enacting positive social change.

I look forward to my time with International HELP as I seek to learn from this organization as I put my full efforts into achieving these goals.

– Dr. Guy Peterson, MPH Intern