Reflecting On The Impact Of The Adelante Mujer Scholarship By Student Ana Verónica Peña

Dear friends and supporters,

I am thrilled to share with you the profound impact that the “Adelante Mujer” scholarship has had on my journey as a student of Intercultural Medicine. From the outset, receiving this scholarship has been a tremendous honor and a game-changer in both my academic and personal life.

Throughout this semester, I’ve had the privilege to engage in a variety of modules and activities that have not only enriched my university experience but have also honed my skills as a future medical professional. One of the most rewarding experiences was participating in vaccination campaigns against diseases like measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough. These campaigns were not just about administering vaccines but were pivotal moments in understanding the importance of preventive medicine and community health.

Equally impactful was my involvement in mosquito control efforts aimed at combating malaria and dengue, diseases that have had a significant impact on our city. These initiatives underscored the critical intersection between public health and community involvement, shaping my understanding of healthcare beyond clinical settings.

Of course, clinical rotations were a cornerstone of this semester. They provided me with firsthand experience in providing care and support to patients facing various illnesses. These rotations have been invaluable in reinforcing my commitment to pursuing excellence in medical practice and serving my community with dedication and empathy.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to those who made this scholarship possible. Your generosity and belief in my potential have been a constant source of inspiration. I am committed to continuing my academic journey with determination, striving to achieve my goals and make a meaningful contribution to society.

As I look ahead to the next semester, I am excited about the opportunities for growth and learning that lie ahead. I promise to keep you updated on my progress and share more insights into how your support continues to shape my path.

Thank you once again for believing in me and for supporting the “Forward Woman” scholarship. Together, we are making a difference.

Warm regards,

Ana Verónica Peña

(translate from Spanish to English)

Five New Doctors

On March 15, five Adelante Mujer students took the Hippocratic Oath at the promotion ceremony of URACCAN’s Intercultural Medicine program. We are very proud of our students and all of the hard work they have completed over the past six years. With this class, Adelante Mujer is up to 75 graduates since our beginning.

New Doctors March 2023  New Doctors March 2023

The women will now begin their internship and their two years of service before they can receive their MINSA number (similar to licensing). Please keep Carol, Dora, Janiesca, Slilma, and Xochil in your prayers as they enter the next phase of medical training.
We also accepted ten new students Continue reading “Five New Doctors” →

Prospective New Doctors

It’s that time of year again when potential new students in the Adelante Mujer program start the application process. This semester we have ten women who have applied and completed interviews! These women are all in their second year of the Intercultural Medicine program at URACCAN University. While most of these women come from the northeast area of Nicaragua, a few come from further south or west.  But they all come with a passion for helping their people.  

Continue reading “Prospective New Doctors” →

A Long Road

We often talk about the six years the women in Adelante Mujer spend in the Intercultural Medicine program at URACCAN University. These women work hard, often beginning their studies in a language that is not native to them. (Women from the remote areas of Nicaragua often speak Miskito or Rama, or another indigenous language. Those who do, will learn Spanish when they start at the university.) These women, most coming right from secondary school, begin studying physiology, anatomy, Continue reading “A Long Road” →

We Are Strong

Last week, Adelante Mujer’s Board of Directors met.  The group meets three times a year to review, discuss, and plan the organization’s activities.

Front row from left are Mary Gorske, Sr. Doris Klein, Joan Schilke, Paula Elmer, Dr. Ann Schlaefer (outgoing). Back row from left are board president Barb Senn, Sarah Endicott DNP, RN, executive director Karen Heuberger, Rita Thomas, past executive director Sr. Diane Bauknecht, Dr. Gina Everson. Absent Jane Monahan.

Continue reading “We Are Strong” →

Welcome to Our Newest Students

In late July, the students at URACCAN University started a new semester.  Seven of those students are new members of Adelante Mujer.  All seven are second-year students in the Intercultural Medicine program. They range in age from 17 to 23, and all have hopes to specialize in different areas of medicine, from obstetrics and gynecology to neurosurgery.

                     Yaritza, Nora, Elena, Verónica, Ashly, Adjanny, Shaimara

The women were very grateful to learn of their acceptance into the program. Here is a message from one of the students. “Thank you very much. I can’t find words to thank you for this great support that you gave me. I will always give my best at all times, thank you very much and blessings.”

Welcome to Yaritza, Nora, Elena, Verónica, Ashly, Adjanny, and Shaimara! May God bless you, your studies, and the people you will serve.

~~ Karen, September 2022 ~~

A Note from our Outgoing President

Dear Friends of Adelante Mujer,

Over the past eight years, I have had the graced opportunity to assist in the mission of Adelante Mujer as a member of the Board of Directors.

When Sister Ann McKean, CSA, asked me to be part of the board, I hesitated a bit to begin yet another task in another country. However, Ann cheerfully allowed me all the time I needed to make a decision to commit to the mission for Nicaraguan women. After some months, I responded affirmatively because of CSA’s longtime commitment to Nicaragua in the services of education and health care. I did not just commit to Ann’s call but to an inner sense of my own life of ministry to the poor whether in Continue reading “A Note from our Outgoing President” →

Standing Strong Through the Pandemic

Though in the US the COVID pandemic is starting to take a back seat to other world events, it is still very real and current for many. It not only impacts individuals and communities through illness, but through economic setbacks as well.

Natasha Mudhar, founder of the social impact organization The World We Want, reports that “Women and girls have absorbed the brunt of the crisis, with the pandemic’s economic impact serving as just one example. Across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, a majority of women work in the informal economy (jobs that are not taxed, monitored or protected by governments), which was the first to be affected by layoffs and pay cuts.” 1  Continue reading “Standing Strong Through the Pandemic” →

Doctor and Pediatrician: The Journey

This month I want to share my feelings and tell a story, a story of sacrifice, of learning, of friendship, and life lessons: a story that began 13 years ago. I decided to study medicine to relieve the pain of the most afflicted because medicine is a career in which we are at the service of our neighbor as well as our own advancement and self-improvement. Deep inside my soul had been planted the seed of a vocation for medicine. I did not choose medicine, it chose me. I knew I had all the qualities to be a good doctor.

Continue reading “Doctor and Pediatrician: The Journey” →

My Soul Friend, Sister Ann

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I entered the Intercultural Medicine Program at URACCAN University when it first began in 2009.  I could not afford even the mínimum program fees and had to charge them.  During my second year I was stressed about how I would ever be able to follow my dream to become a doctor.  It was then that I first met Sister Ann McKean, CSA at the convent in Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua and I told her my problem.  That ángel of mine went to the university and paid my fees and when she brought the receipt to my home, I cried.  That was how I became the first Adelante Mujer student and that was the beginning of my beautiful relationship with Sister Ann Continue reading “My Soul Friend, Sister Ann” →