The CMMB Volunteer Program Team is excited to introduce its new group of global volunteers. By dedicating their time, energy, and expertise, they will help make a positive difference in the lives of our beneficiaries. The Volunteer Program is an extension of CMMB’s dedication to strengthening health systems in developing countries through training, logistical and professional support, and direct provision of services and supplies. We see these volunteer placements as a benefit to both the volunteers and the communities they serve.

Name: Laura Kyriss

Home: Omaha, Nebraska

Education: Upon her return she will apply to Nurse Midwife graduate school.

CMMB Volunteer post: Labour and Delivery Nurse, Kenya

Interesting Fact: If she was stuck in an elevator with anyone, she would choose Pope Francis. She feels her leadership is taking the Catholic Church in a very positive direction.

Name: Dr. David D’Souza

Home: Toronto, Canada

Education: Medical studies at University of Ottawa, and Family Medicine residency at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He also completed a Fellowship in Global Health at University of Calgary and further studied at St Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

CMMB Volunteer Post: Doctor at Mutomo Mission Hospital in Kenya

Interesting fact: David has spent a lot of time volunteering abroad, including placements with Red Cross in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and with Missionaries of the Poor in Kingston, Jamaica. He also co-founded a Bioethics interest group for medical students while studying at the University of Ottawa. During an Easter celebration at St Bernard’s Center for the Elderly he performed as the vocal soloist.

Name: Kirollos Fares

Home: Cairo, Egypt

Education: International Public Health Degree from University of Sydney

CMMB Volunteer Post: Kenya

Interesting fact: Kirollos has volunteered in various countries throughout Africa and Asia in roles that range from conducting medical exploration for relief work to management and fundraising.

Name: Faduma Ahmed

Home: Mogadishu, Somali. Faduma and her family have lived as refugees in Djbouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and finally settled in Colorado.

Education: Degree in Public Health

CMMB Volunteer Post: Kenya

Interesting Fact: Her experience living in African countries as a refugee influenced her decision to pursue a career in public health. Witnessing the preventable deaths of so many people, she is now committed to being part of the solution. She also believes that going back to Kenya will allow her to say “thank you” to the place that was home to her, when she had to leave her own home.

Name: Jessica Saenz

Home: Mexico, but has lived in Texas for the past 12 years

Education: Degree from UT Health Science Center, San Antonio

CMMB Volunteer Post: Nurse in Peru

Interesting fact: Jessica is bilingual and has emergency medical shelter training. Apart from her work in public health, she enjoys singing in her choir, “Amigos de Jesus.”

Name: Meredith Kerrigan

Home: Brooklyn, New York

Education: Graduate of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. MEredith also has a Master’s in Public Health

CMMB Volunteer Post: Master of Public Health Generalist in Lima, Peru

Interesting fact: Meredith has experience conducting and implementing research and providing social services to marginalized populations, including sex workers, refugees, HIV+ persons, LGBTQ community, undocumented workers, indigenous communities, the homeless and those below the 400% poverty level. She came to CMMB through a recommendation from an alumni CMMB volunteer, Haley Marchant.

Name: Brittany Jonap

Home: Memphis, TN

Education: Pharmacology at Florida College

CMMB Volunteer Post: Health Supply Chain Specialist in Côtes-de-Fer, Haiti

Interesting Fact: Within the past year she has traveled extensively and spent several months working at a hospital in Laos. She has been to Haiti multiple times to volunteer with St. Vincent’s School for Handicapped Children and has already joined the CMMB team in Haiti.

Name: Robin Maddox

Home: Grand Junction, CO

Education: Masters in Organizational Leadership and Management from the Regis University

CMMB Volunteer Post: Building a volunteer corps for the new hospital in Côtes-de-Fer, coordinating mission trips and serving in whatever capacity she is needed.

Interesting fact: She started her career as an officer in the US Air Force and spent 13 years living abroad! She has recently retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs, has been happily married for 27 years and has four grown children that live across the country from Colorado to New York City.

Name: Anne Guion

Home: Chicago, IL

Education: Undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago and Masters of Science – Paediatric Nurse Practitioner degree

CMMB Volunteer Post: Paediatric Nurse in Kenya

Interesting Fact: For the past four years, Anne has worked as an acute care pediatric nurse in urban Chicago, focusing on the healthcare of low resource families. She is especially interested in the effects of resource distribution on chronic diseases and the application of unique healthcare models in specific populations to improve patient outcomes.

Name: Patrica Lutes

Home: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Education: Family Nurse Practitioner

CMMB Volunteer Post: She will be re-joining the Kenya team in the fall of 2016 serving as
a nurse practitioner.

Interesting fact: This will be her third time serving as a field volunteer for CMMB! She brings with her 30 years of nursing experience. She explains, “My desire to serve the underserved and often neglected populations began when I was a small child. I contribute this to my loving parents, six brothers, and five sisters. They have always been my heroes.”

Name: Onduru Gervas

Home: Tanzania

Education: BSc in Biotechnology and Laboratory Science

CMMB Volunteer Post: Laboratory Scientist in Kenya

Interesting Fact: He gained experience by training and working as a health laboratory scientist in different areas, including bacteriology, virology, parasitology, haematology, immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology and histology. Currently he is in a final stage of writing a dissertation for the award of MSc on health analytical epidemiology at the University of Zambia.