Dr. Ron David, Co-Founder and Acting Executive Director of KHISH/US
Fifteen Years Service
Dr. Ron David of Richmond, VA, specializes in Pediatric Neurology. As a co-founder of the Key Humanitarian Initiative for Southwest Honduras (KHISH), he is the heart and soul of ProjectVision. He has invested his life in the people of Honduras and is a friend to all.
Dr. Susan Pillsbury David, Co-Founder and Member of the Board of KHISH/US
Fifteen Years Service
Susan is a pediatrician in Richmond, VA. She spearheads KHISH Medical/Dental Projects. In 20 12, she won the winner of the 2012 Frist Humanitarian Award (Health Corporation of America) which cited her 32 years of pediatric practice and her seminal medical work in the Honduras South.
Dr. Hermes Adolfo Moreno Guzman, General Medical Doctor and Member of the Board of KHISH/Honduras
Fifteen Years Service
Dr. Moreno works year round in a general medical clinic in the capital of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Since 2005, he has accompanied KHISH’s brigadas medica (or medical brigades) to the impoverished communities of the South of Honduras. Dr. Moreno also makes quarterly visits to three communities giving ongoing care for chronic medical conditions. To say that KHISH could never have gotten this far without him is the ultimate understatement! He is the very model of hard work and dedication.
Reverend Dr. Richard Graugh, Member of the Board of KHISH/US
Fourteen Years of Service
Dr. Graugh is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Port Jefferson, NY. Since 2005, he has served as spiritual advisor for KHISH brigades and is the liaison with the Presbytery of Honduras. Richard coordinates patient registration for the medical clinics. He tends to the emotional needs of fellow volunteers for whom the culture shock can be unsettling. He is a calming influence for all the volunteers.
Dr. Leonard Jensen, Dentist
Ten Years of Service
Dr. Jensen is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. For many years, he hand-selected an outstanding senior dental student to accompany him to experience the most basic dentistry under the most primitive conditions. “Dr. Len” is a born teacher and delights in sharing his expertise with younger colleagues. He always has a smile for everyone.
Melvin Tejada, Member of the Board of KHISH/Honduras
Eleven Years of Service
Melvin is the executive of the Centro Cristiano de Servicios Humanitario de Honduras in El Progreso, Honduras. SEE International, a non-profit in California that alifornia thatfacilitates volunteer eye surgery brigades around the world, introduced Dr Ron to Melvin. He has been introduced Melvin to Dr. Ron in 2009. Since then, he has proven to be a valuable resource for KHISH in ever since, helping KHISH to expanding its services to include eye care. Melvin consulted in those early stages, and our first KHISH eye brigade took place in 2011. Melvin and his staff from CCSHH have taken part in every brigade since, traveling eight hours by truck by car to lend their invaluable expertise and hard work. Melvin is a founding member of KHISH/Honduras and lends his experience and guidance throughout the year.
Dr. Barbara Olson
Five Years of Service
Dr. Olson is a a pediatric neurologist in Nashville, TN. She is committed to improving the health and well being of children. Her dedication to KHISH allows this “worker B” to share her knowledge with the deserving and grateful families of Southern Honduras. Her upbeat attitude and her enthusiasm are contagious.
Dr. Carlos Martinez
Four Years of Service
One of two eye surgeons on the inaugural eye surgery brigade in 2011, Dr. Martinez has given three years of additional service, as well as introducing several of his colleagues to KHISH and encouraging them to volunteer as well. The stories of his volunteer work with during a chance business visit with Mike Dobkowski of Glacial Multimedia led to Glacial’s critical role in providing web and other promotional services for KHISH, as well as Mike’s own opportunity to be a part of Project Vision’s medical mission in 2019. Carlos’ sincere heart for helping others is apparent to everyone he comes into contact with. “Que Dios tebendiga, que tu puedes continuar les ayuda.”
Abigail Genazia, Member of the Board of KHISH/US
Four Years of Service,
Abi is an elementary school teacher in Richmond, VA. She began volunteering with KHISH as a student working with the Honduran children. They y were fascinated by her enthusiasm and how her fair complexion turned red in the sun despite the strongest sunblock! Her experience in Honduras with the children was directly responsible for her decision to make teaching her career.
Linda Parks, Board Member of KHISH/US
Three Years Service
Linda Parks, a retired English teacher in Heathsville, VA, joined the KHISH volunteers in 2016 as a “free agent,” working wherever needed with the Eye Team or the Village People. After her first year, she found her niche in the villages, helping to entertain the children with games, music and fun. She has said many times that she did not mean to fall in love with the Honduran people and KHISH, but it just turned out that way.
Dr. Keith Kellum
Three Years of Service
Dr. Keith Kellum is an ophthalmologist from Houma, LA. He had been interested in participating in medical missions and learned about KHISH from his friend, Dr. Carlos Martinez. He has volunteered in three KHISH brigades.
Dr. Carol Johnston
Three Years of Service
Dr. Johnston, from Jacksonville, NC, writes, “I have had the pleasure to join KHISH on three eye brigades to Southern Honduras, as part of a Jingteam of US and Honduran ophthalmologists and and staff from both countries to perform sight-restoring surgery to the beautiful people of Honduras has been a wonderful experience. The story of a 60 year-old woman bilaterally blind from cataracts was particularly touching. She was unable to care for herself or contribute to her family. The smile on her face when her independence and self-worth was restored was priceless! It has been a blessing and a privilege to serve through KHISH.” Dr. Johnston has brought each of her three children to experience the joy of restoring sight and of serving others who so desperately need it.
Dr. Tom Edmonds
Three Years Service
Dr. Edmonds, an eye surgeon from Virginia Beach, VA, has brought two of his daughters to Honduras to experience the surgeries in such difficult conditions. “Dr. Tom’s” kind and gentle manner make him a favorite among all the volunteers and patients.
Dr. Laurel Lee
Three Years of Service
Laurel was initially one of Dr. Jensen’s handpicked students when she caught the “Honduras Bug.” She graduated from dental school in 2017, moved to Canada and is now in private practice there. She has returned each year since graduation and gets the award for furthest distance traveled and the greatest temperature change from -40 to +100 degrees! Her smile keeps everyone going each day.
Jackie Gernaey
Three Years Service
Jackie is the CEO of a business-consulting firm in Port Jefferson, NY. She writes, “I hail from Long Island, NY. I have wanted to do a medical mission since I graduated from college. Life got in the way but I have found my niche. I get the joy of helping people who really need it as well as spending a winter week in the warm. The medical/dental group I work with go to the villages to provide health services. The people of KHISH are so dedicated and so wonderful to work with. We don’t do this for the Hondurans but with them so have made some great friends I look forward to seeing each year. Some of my US friends have said I am crazy to go to Honduras but the reality is the places we go in Southern Honduras are safer than Baltimore, New Orleans and many other USA cities.”
Brian Baird
Three Years Service
Brian, a pharmacist in Richmond, VA, is a leader in both church and civic organizations. In Honduras, he provides expert guidance for all the physicians in effectively using available medications to address the diverse medical needs of the Hondurans who seek care at our KHISH clinics. His dry wit catches the volunteers by surprise and keeps them laughing. His daughter has joined him in volunteering in the KHISH brigade.
Sallie Leys
Three Years of Service
Sallie wrote, “I was not sure what to expect on my first mission trip with KHISH. It was a moving experience. I have been on three mission trips with the wonderful KHISH community. The things I saw on a daily basis reminded me of how blessed we are in America. The children are one of the most memorable things I will never forget–the curiosity, innocence and despair in their eyes. I hope to join another brigade in the near future.
Cherry Corley
Three Years Service
In 2007, Cherry saw a display about KHISH. Since she had no medical background or spoke Spanish, she didn’t know think she was a very likely candidate for the trip. She wrote, “With encouragement from Jack [her husband], I agreed to go. Little did I know what was ahead. … What an experience! I received far more from this trip than I gave. I returned again in 2008 and then 2011. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve others in such a wonderful way. KHISH provides not just medical, dental and optical care to those in Honduras who have few options in life; KHISH provides hope to the people there.”
