UMass Chan Community Events

The Dominican Republic Health Initiative (DR-HI), is a collaborative effort at UMass Chan Medical School involving nursing students, medical students, and faculty volunteers who travel to the DR, working with local non-organizational groups (NGOs) to improve health care for marginalized DR communities including Haitian migrant families with little or no access to healthcare. 

Our train-the-trainer global health model works with local community health workers known as promotoras in DR bateyes known as sugar cane villages and barrios. Our long-time work with El Buen Samaritano and more recently with Clinica De Familia in La Romana focuses on an interprofessional partnership to improve access to healthcare while emphasizing cultural respect. 

Money raised will support training and education to address the needs of children and families in these impoverished communities including HIV prevention, hand hygiene to reduce infections, mental health well-being including psychological first aid and self-esteem, and reproductive health education for adolescents. Your contributions will support these efforts including the train-the-trainer promotora program and supplies such as hygiene (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste) and reusable menstrual pads. 

Please consider a donation to support this work and/or share this page with a friend to help advance the health of marginalized populations in the Dominican Republic. Thank you!