Serviendo Juntos — Serving Together
Serving Together with Partners
One of the most important lessons we’ve learned over the past two decades of providing accessible healthcare in Honduras is simple: we can accomplish far more when we work together. Last month’s joint medical brigade was a powerful reflection of that truth.
From March 8–14, 2026, Blue Sky Surgical, Summit in Honduras, The C14 Foundation, and Serving at the Crossroadscame together for their third collaborative mission—uniting skills, resources, and a shared commitment to serve.
Surgical Team: Surgeons: Seth Newman, Ryan Shadis, Gabe Ruiz and resident Adam Scanlon; Anesthesiologists: Julius Heyman, Constantine Kokenes, Sandra Sosa, and CRNA Deb McTamney; Physician Assistant: Chris Ayslworth; OR nurses: Jane Bergan, Jewel Campbell, Luz Del Valle, Angela Evans, Heidi Keegan, Caitlin Kistner, and Jen Smith; Pre-op and Post-op nurses: Christine Hildebrand, Laura Patterson, and Cherie Salamy; OB/GYN Team: Bethany Perry, Patty Davis and residents Gaby Caprio and Enxhi Rrapi; Family Medicine Team: Physicians: John Russell, Gerry Cleary, and residents Sean Cleary, Erin Russell, and Katie Donnelly; CRNP: Dana Liskova; Pediatric Nurse: Karen Cleary; Interpreters: Paul Salamy, Rudy Tellez, Sr., Rudy Tellez, Jr., Sebastian Tellez, Sophia Tellez; Support staff: Geoff Beauchamp, Kelly Cox, (Sterile Processing), Bobbi Hess; Manos Amigas Staff:Director: Delmy Sanchez Contreras; Physicians: Luis Contreras, David Pacheco, and Marlon Tabora; Nurses: Melissa Castillo and Ingrid Villeda; Support: Carlos Hernandez and Miguel Meijia; and our partners from The C14 Foundation: Martina Tamaro, and Summit in Honduras: Maggie Ducayet, Wally Ducayet, and Mamta Shah.
Partnering closely with the dedicated staff of Manos Amigas, this 43-member team delivered critical care to communities where access is limited or nonexistent. In just one week, the impact was profound:
71 life-changing surgeries performed
115 women screened for cervical cancer, providing early detection that can save lives
30 gynecologic consultations, including 10 pessary placements to improve quality of life
3 babies safely delivered
28 pregnancy ultrasounds conducted, offering essential prenatal insight
Nearly 400 patients treated in remote regions rarely—if ever—reached by healthcare teams
These numbers represent far more than services delivered—they reflect lives changed, hope restored, and communities strengthened.
This mission is a testament to what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared purpose. By combining expertise and building trusted local partnerships, we are not only meeting urgent needs today—we are helping create a healthier, more sustainable future for the communities we serve.
Serving Together with Family
Throughout the week, as we worked side by side serving those in need, something beautiful happened—strangers became family. This sense of community is one of the most powerful and lasting impacts of each brigade.
On this trip, that spirit of connection was even more meaningful, as several biological families served together, sharing not only their skills but their commitment to compassionate care across generations:
Three generations of the Tellez family: Rudy Sr. (surgical tech and interpreter), Rudy Jr. (interpreter), and twins Sebastian and Sophia (interpreters)
Two-generation families:
Dr. Gerry Cleary (neonatologist) and Karen Cleary (pediatric nurse), alongside their son Sean Cleary (family medicine resident)
Dr. John Russell (family medicine) and his daughter Erin Russell (family medicine resident)
Spouses serving side by side:
Dr. Bethany Perry (OB/GYN) and Dr. Seth Newman (general surgeon)
Dr. Ryan Shadis and Dana Liscoka (nurse practitioner)
Dr. Sandra Sosa (anesthesiologist) and Dr. Constantine Kokenes (anesthesiologist)
Cherie Salamy (post-operative nurse) and Paul Salamy (interpreter)
These families remind us that service is not just something we do—it’s something we pass on. Across generations and relationships, a shared commitment to care is creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond a single week in Honduras.
In the Operating Room . . .
Surgical Team ready to go on Day 1!
Throughout the week, four surgical teams worked tirelessly in the operating rooms—three focused on general surgery and one dedicated to local procedures. Together, they performed hernia repairs, gynecologic surgeries, and the removal of “lumps and bumps”—conditions that, while often treatable, can go unaddressed for years in areas with limited access to care.
For some patients, this surgery had been 20 years in the making.
The gratitude was unmistakable—in relieved smiles, heartfelt embraces, and quiet words of thanks. These moments stay with our volunteers long after they return home. Many give up a week of their own vacation to serve at Manos Amigas, and it is these human connections that continue to call them back.
This week also marked an important step forward in our commitment to partnership and sustainability. Building on a relationship established last fall with surgeons in San Pedro Sula, we were honored to welcome Dr. Pablo Sosa, a second-year Honduran general surgery resident, as part of the team.
Working alongside surgeons from Blue Sky Surgical, Dr. Sosa assisted in procedures while further developing his surgical skills—an experience that reflects the heart of our shared mission. This kind of collaboration embodies Serving at the Crossroads’ philosophy: Aid. Inform. Empower. It also aligns with Blue Sky’s deep commitment to medical education and bidirectional learning, where knowledge and expertise are exchanged—not just given.
Together, we are building more than surgical capacity. We are building relationships, trust, and a shared future—the foundation that makes this work not only possible, but lasting
In the Villages . . .
The Family Medicine team traveled long distances over rugged, often unforgiving roads—deep into the mountains—to reach small, isolated villages. Despite significant medical needs, the people they encountered were warm, welcoming, and deeply grateful for the care they received.
Over the course of the week, the team provided care to nearly 400 patients across four remote villages—many of whom have little to no access to healthcare.
In this region, countless small communities remain largely beyond the reach of regular medical services. Visiting teams may come only once a year—if at all—and travel to larger cities for care can be especially difficult, particularly during the rainy season. To help bridge this gap, Summit in Honduras has implemented a sustainable, community-based solution: training local residents to serve as “health guardians.” These individuals provide basic care and health guidance within their villages, offering a critical first line of support.
Each health guardian is connected to Dr. Luis at Manos Amigas, ensuring access to medical expertise, follow-up care, and referrals when more advanced treatment is needed. This model is helping transform access to care—extending the impact of each medical brigade far beyond a single week and into the daily lives of the communities served.
Sometimes, one encounter can deeply impact those who serve. For Dr. John Russell, this was one of those moments.
The House Call
“Today over lunch, I was asked if we would make a house call—to see a woman the family believed was in a ‘coma.’Paul, who had been doing intakes with me, came along to interpret. We walked up a steep hill to a small home with no door and no windows.
Inside, we found an elderly woman—95 years old—who looked older than the mountains themselves. She was not in a coma, but she was very confused, answering every question with ‘No sé’—I don’t know. She also had untreated hypertension and significant back pain.
I walked back to our clinic site to gather what I could—medication for her blood pressure, acetaminophen, and a topical cream for her pain.
Her son, 79 years old, was there caring for her. A strong, shirtless man of the mountains, he was doing everything he could for his mother in a home with a wood-burning stove and little else.
As we walked back down the hill, I thought about similar visits I’ve made in Montgomery County. The setting could not be more different—but the reality is the same. An adult child caring for an aging parent. The quiet heartbreak of watching someone you love slowly fade into dementia. That part is universal.
I didn’t do much. But maybe it mattered—just acknowledging that this woman, forgotten by many, was still deeply loved by someone. Someone who hoped that maybe a miracle might come from afar.
Love is plentiful. But miracles are hard to come by.”
—Dr. John Russell
Miracles may be rare—but sometimes, they look like presence. Like listening. Like showing up.
For this son, on this day, perhaps the miracle wasn’t something extraordinary—but simply that someone came, cared, and did what they could.
Promoting Women’s Health . . .
Blue Sky Surgical’s OB/GYN team continued its meaningful partnership with the Maya Ch’orti’ Maternity Clinic in La Entrada. This clinic serves indigenous Ch’orti’ Maya women who live high in the mountains of the Copán Region—these women travel from remote villages a few weeks before their due dates to await safe delivery. During the week, Dr. Patty Davis and Dr. Gaby Capiro delivered three babies, conducted 28 pregnancy ultrasounds, and provided hands-on education for clinic staff—strengthening local capacity for maternal care.
In addition, neonatologist Dr. Gerry Cleary and RN Karen Cleary led infant resuscitation training, equipping providers with life-saving skills that will benefit mothers and newborns long after the team has returned home.
Together, this partnership is helping ensure that even in the most remote regions, mothers and babies have access to safer, more supported beginnings.
At Manos Amigas, Dr. Bethany Perry and Dr. Angie Rrapi focused on advancing women’s health through both clinical care and preventive screening. Thank you to The C14 Foundation for your support of improving women’s health through the grant for cervical screening test kits and plessaries.
In addition to providing gynecologic consultations, they performed 115 Pap smears—a critical tool in the early detection of cervical cancer—and placed 10 pessaries, improving comfort and quality of life for women experiencing pelvic health issues.Encouragingly, the vast majority of screenings were normal. Two women with abnormal results were referred to Santa Rosa de Copán for further evaluation and treatment—ensuring they receive the care they need as early as possible.
Through compassionate care and early detection, this work is helping protect the long-term health and well-being of women across the region.
Collaboration multiplies impact for underserved communities
Together, through partnership and compassion, this mission brought life-changing care to some of the most underserved communities in Honduras—restoring health, strengthening local capacity, and reaching nearly 400 patients in remote villages. From surgeries and safe deliveries to preventive screenings and training local providers, this work reflects a deeper impact: not just meeting urgent needs, but building a more sustainable future for those who would otherwise go without care.