Our History

 

Dr. Scott Cohen, a pediatrician and former Albert Schweitzer Fellow in Africa, founded Global Pediatric Alliance on a simple premise: empowering community health workers through education will improve child and maternal health in poor, rural areas. In 2002, he volunteered at a health project in the eastern jungle of Guatemala where, as in many areas in Latin America, access to formal health services is extremely limited and traditional midwives and health promoters provide essential care. He recognized that training these frontline health workers could empower them to increase, and sustain, the quality of care for women and children. Later that year, he established GPA to offer workshops in Western medicine for community health practitioners.

 

Today, GPA has expanded its focus to empower communities as well. We’ve met many grassroots groups that have the knowledge and motivation to find their own solutions to child and maternal health problems. What they lack is funding or technical expertise. In response, we created our Small Grants Program to support health projects designed by communities, for communities.

 

GPA’s evolution has been guided by our commitment to grassroots community empowerment, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. With this focus, we continue to develop methods to help improve the lives of women and children in Latin America.