Irene Felsman, DNP, MPH, RN and Andrew Herrera MPH, MBA
First Published May 2023, Updated April 2025
On March 13, 2014, Impact Global Health Alliance (formerly Curamericas Global) attended a presentation by IGHA experts on Care Groups at the Triangle Global Health Consortium (NC Global Health Alliance). At this meeting, Andrew Herrera, Barbara Muffoletto and Irene Felsman along with Danielle Pipher Clement all talked at length about a potential partnership between the Duke School of Nursing – Nursing Students Without Borders club and Impact Global Health Alliance for students to support our work in Guatemala through a Spring Break service trip. In January 2019 we signed an agreement with DUSON for course related clinical immersion experiences with ABSN and graduate students. Our project in Guatemala was added as a clinical site for Community and Public Health required ABSN course. This agreement deepened our commitments to supporting both students and nurses at our project sites. Since 2014 we have had 10 teams visit and support our Guatemala partners , with over 80 unique students and several clinical instructors; some students have gone twice. Since 2014, Duke students have contributed over 11058 hours of service, a $288,156 in-kind value; and cash donations of $24,000.
Nursing students observe and support labor and delivery practices, prenatal care, postpartum care, primary care, school health promotion and community health fairs for mothers and children under 5. They learn traditional health practices, and how to connect with diverse indigenous populations. These teams always travel with a DUSON preceptor/instructor who provides clinical guidance, and a Impact Global Health Alliance Facilitator who provides support for interpretation and travel to the western highlands of Guatemala (a remote high-need area, 10 hours by car from the capital city). Prior to travel, we communicate with professional nurses at the program site to identify priorities needed for health promotion, education and quality improvement interventions.
DUSON students bring all supplies they will personally use during their time on site, in
an effort to lessen burden on our partners. In addition, students have raised funds to
purchase several simulation models (Mama Natalie) to support training needs. Here
are some quotes from participants from Duke:
“The trip was amazing! I learned so much at the project site and surrounding casa
maternas! They planned a diverse array of health care activities. I really appreciated
how diverse and comprehensive our week was!”
“Excellent opportunity to experience personally the challenges of community/public
health in low income areas.”
“I learned a lot about capacity building and partnership in public health. Respecting and
working with, not against local/traditional cultures.”
“I’ve done several “expeditions” abroad and this one I felt like I was making the most
impact… It is so amazing to reflect on how much we were able to accomplish in such a
short period of time!”
When the COVID crisis disrupted global travel, Impact Global Health Alliance served as a remote
community health clinical site supporting 65+ students in a spring and summer clinical
rotation. Students worked with experts at Impact Global Health Alliance to support
community-health outreach across NC for Spanish speaking populations.
What makes Impact Global Health Alliance different:
- A professional public health program with deep connection with the local
community; - A chance for students to learn alongside experts in community-based health;
- Perspective on how to participate in global health in a sustainable and
values-driven environment; - Safety and global volunteering best practices in place;
- Experience with over 2,000 global volunteers and partnerships with other
universities like Johns Hopkins, University of California in Los Angeles, University
of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and the University of Florida, among others.
