Kenya Heart and Sole

The Afya Njema Project

June 11, 2014
by melissagodfrey001
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April Training

Today was a busy and fun day! We were educated by Kenyans on Kenyan culture, economy, politic, healthcare system and food access. We were instructed by the exercise physiologist as to what issues we may see arising in our client and how we can best help them. We learned from our pain specialist how intertwined osteoarthritis is within the rural lifestyles due to lifting heavy loads. We also learned much on the epidemic of heart disease and diabetes that are running ramped throughout Africa. We were instructed on culturally tailored methods to educate on promoting better health to avoid heart disease or minimize symptoms. We also took time to practice running the clinics. We each learned and practiced the role we will be playing at the clinics. We finished the day by watching the First Grader, an amazingly inspiration and beautiful movie.

June 11, 2014
by melissagodfrey001
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February Orientation

February orientation was awesome! The US team is wonderful! We got time to get to know each other and really bond as a team, we learned so much about each other. Everyone is so caring and kind; this is going to be a fantastic year. We learned basics about Kenyan lifestyle and culture. We went over some helpful hints for traveling and being within the beautiful Kenyan culture. We also practiced our Swahili. It was a great introduction to our project and the group!

Asante Sana to all who made it a special day!

February 27, 2014
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Heather Milton

Heather has spent her entire personal and professional life dedicated to healthy behaviors and behavior change. She began with an interest in sports conditioning after being a USAG Gymnast and Track and Field competitor. While in college at Northeastern University, she learned exercise can be a powerful medicine. After completion of her Master degree in Exercise Physiology, she began work in a diagnostic cardiology lab using exercise as a modality to help physicians diagnose various heart, lung and metabolism conditions. Following 5 years in diagnostic cardiology and personal training, she transitioned to a preventative medicine center where multiple clinical and fitness personnel work together to help clients and patients achieve their best quality of life and function.  Heather brings her dynamic cardiovascular and musculoskeletal background to the project to share knowledge and instruct exercises as medicine.

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February 27, 2014
by melissagodfrey001
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Judy Walsh

Judith Healey Walsh is a community health clinical nurse specialist with over 30 years of urban- based, community focused nursing experience in direct care, program development, administration, and student education. She has taught fundamentals and community health nursing, and precepted graduate students in both community health and nursing education courses. An expert in competency based education, she has extensive experience teaching diverse non-traditional college students, and has developed many student success programs. Recently, she coordinated the design and programming of the Center for Clinical Education and Research (CCER), which provides a technologically sophisticated learning environment that fosters active, experiential learning. As director of the CCER, she is responsible for the development, coordination, and evaluation of academic and clinical support services, clinical lab education, and simulation integration. She has developed substantial expertise in the development and facilitation of all aspects of simulation, has served as the simulation specialist on training grants, presented her work at local, regional and national conferences, and has been the recipient of awards for excellence, innovation, and leadership in nursing education. Her scholarship focuses on cultural education in nursing, innovative forms of experiential learning, and the needs of diverse learners.

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February 27, 2014
by melissagodfrey001
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Mahesh Jhangiani

I was born and raised in India, and went to Catholic school run by the Jesuit Society. I lost my father when I was 15 years old, while both my older brothers were in the USA. I was essentially raised by my mother and older sister. I went to college to study business and economics, and migrated to the USA at the age of 22 years. In America, I worked as a bookkeeper for 7 years, and accounting proofreader for 5 years. I went back to college for engineering at the age of 32, but discontinued after 1 year. I then worked as high-school math and science tutor for 1 year, after which I worked as addictions counselor in a halfway house for men on and off for 10 years, and also nursing assistant in an emergency room, while studying post-baccalaureate premedical sciences in the evening. I became a nurse at age 48, in 2006, and have not looked back since. I feel I should have been a nurse 30 years ago! I lead a simple life gathering pleasure from simple things, although my partner and I like to travel and we save enough money to travel overseas at least once a year (we got back from India two weeks ago). I do not have any hobbies, other than “puttering around,” and spending time with friends. Being in school almost all the time I seldom have time to read as I once did. School work keeps me occupied; learning is something I prefer over watching television. My quest is to make a difference in others’ lives wherever and whenever I am given the opportunity. I currently work as a nurse in a psychiatric hospital, in the inpatient detoxification unit. I look forward to this opportunity to interact with my fellow Kenyan nursing students. unnamed-1

February 27, 2014
by melissagodfrey001
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Beth Kinsella

Beth Kinsella, RN, BSN, BS, is a Family Nurse Practitioner student at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB) and a Registered Nurse (RN) at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston. She received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from UMB and her Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry from Tufts University. Prior to her work as a nurse and graduate student, she served in the Peace Corps in a small South Pacific country, Vanuatu, teaching English, science, health, and physical education to help develop the health promotion, disease prevention, and educational system of a small island community. She currently works as an RN on a BIDMC medical-surgical unit where she also precepts fellow nurses and nursing students and was recognized as a “We Promise” champion in 2011 for her patient advocacy and care excellence. She currently sits on the board of the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses and is a graduate of the Institute of Health Care Improvement’s Student Quality Leadership program and the American Nurses’ Association’s Leadership Institute. She is excited to collaborate with our UMB and Kenya colleagues to continue the important and honorable workof the Kenya Heart and Sole project.unnamed

February 27, 2014
by melissagodfrey001
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Susana Silva

I am Susana Silva a 26 years old nursing student at UMass Boston. I was born in El Salvador and migrated to United States at the age of 12. I considered myself lucky to be able to live in a country of opportunities. Having grown up in a small developing country I learned to appreciate what most people take for granted. I believe that care, compassion and education have the power to change the world!

Currently, I am working at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as an ECG technician. My position requires that I go all over the hospital. This has given me the chance to meet great nurses and to witness patients’ heartfelt stories that have ultimately inspired me to be humbled and passionate about becoming a nurse. On my free time, I love to watch movies with my husband, spend time with my family and play with my dog Charlie. I so excited and honored to be part of the KHAS team. I am looking forward to learn and work with everyone in the team.unnamed

February 27, 2014
by melissagodfrey001
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Margaret Caudill-Slosberg

Margaret Caudill-Slosberg MD, PhD, MPH, is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Community Medicine and an Instructor in Anesthesiology at Dartmouth Medical School and the Dartmouth Institute. She received her MD and PhD Rom Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and her MPH from the Dartmouth Institute, Dartmouth Medical School. She has a longstanding interest in pain management and mind/body interactions and is the author of Managing Pain Before it Manages You a patient workbook for chronic pain management currently translated into Spanish, Chinese, Portugese, Polish and Russian. In addition to her pain management expertise she is a Rural Health Quality Improvement Specialist for the State of Vermont and contributes her services to free community health clinics in the state. Dr. Caudill-Slosberg serves as the lead pain specialist in the Kenya Heart and Sole project responsible for developing pain management prevention strategies and treatment protocols for the team.

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February 27, 2014
by melissagodfrey001
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Jacob Kigo Kariuki

Jacob Kigo Kariuki KRCHN, BScN,holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. After his graduation in 2008 he worked as a staff nurse at Coast Provincial General Hospital in Kenya, before joining P.C.E.A Tumutumu School of Nursing in December 2009 where he worked as a nurse tutor. At Tumutumu, he worked closely with the deputy principal, Irene Ndigirigi, to foster the service learning and research partnership with UMASS Boston. In that capacity he helped develop community outreach activities and continued the work of the Afya Njema project throughout the year. In 2011 he began his doctoral studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston and is enrolled in the PhD program in Population Health. He serves as the US coordinator for the Kenya Heart and Sole Afya Njema project and recently completed a five week Clinical Observation program at the Center for Nursing Excellence, Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Kigo_About_2012

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