We couldn’t do what we do without our amazing staff, health promoters, health educators, and all of the volunteers and community members who serve alongside us in health and hope.
Leadership and Key Staff

DR. DAVID PARAJÓN, MD, MPH, MBA
Co-FounderDr. David Parajón, a physician, public health practitioner, social entrepreneur, and medical missionary, co-founded AMOS Health and Hope with his wife, Laura, building on the vision and pioneering community health work of his father, Dr. Gustavo Parajón. Dr. David earned his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. He trained in internal medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque and in preventative medicine at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD, earning his M.P.H. He earned his M.B.A. from INCAE School of Business in Managua, Nicaragua. Dr. Parajón currently serves as faculty with the General Internal Medicine Division at the University of New Mexico and as an Associate Missionary through International Ministries.

DR. LAURA CHANCHIEN PARAJÓN, MD, MPH
Co-FounderDr. Laura Chanchien Parajón, a family physician, medical missionary (International Ministries), and public health professional, co-founded AMOS Health and Hope with her husband, David, and worked in the health equity “trenches” of rural Nicaragua for nearly 20 years. She has a strong call to work towards a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive and live an abundant life. Dr. Parajón received her B.A. from Brown University, M.D. from University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Medicine, and M.P.H. from UNM School of Public Health. She completed her residency in family medicine at UNM School of Medicine. Dr. Parajón currently serves as the Executive Director for the UNM Office for Community Health and Assistant Professor in the UNM Department of Family and Community Medicine.

DR. GABRIELLA WOO, MD
Executive DirectorDr. Gabriella Alexia Woo Moreno is a General Medical Physician, additionally certified in Health Services Management. Further, she is a recent distinguished graduate from the CAHI-INCAE Innovative Leaders in Health Fellowship Program. Dr. Woo has more than 7 years of experience working in Public Health programs at AMOS Health and Hope in Nicaragua. Before becoming AMOS Executive Director, she served for three years as the Programs Director, where she managed 12 health initiatives in 6 different regions of Nicaragua, overseeing 21 people in her charge, and prior to that, she served for four years as AMOS’ Medical Teams Coordinator and the “El Samaritano” Clinic Director.

CHRISTINE LAFFERTY
Development and Communications Directorchristine.lafferty@amoshealth.orgChristine (Christy) Lafferty is from Cleveland, Ohio. As a young adult, she developed a deep sense of commitment and passion for serving others, motivated by her Christian faith. After studying Sociology and Spanish in college, she followed a call to serve as a young adult missionary for 3 years, working alongside communities in Nicaragua and farm workers in California. Christy has had the honor of working with AMOS for the past 8 years, and has fallen in love with its model and community-based approaches. She also has a special interest in women’s health and in her free time has worked with couples as a birth doula and childbirth educator.




LESTER LORENTE
Rural Health Program Coordinator
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors ensures that AMOS effectively carries out its mission and is well-positioned to work towards our vision of health and hope for all.

- Roberto Antonio Martínez, MD, MPH, Board President (Nicaragua)
- Carol Harvey, RN (USA)
- David Hallett, JD, Vice President (USA)
- David Gnirk (USA)
- David Parajón, MD, MPH, MBA (Nicaragua & USA)
- Deborah Norton, MD, MPH (USA)
- Gary Claus, CPA (USA)
- Kim Sandnes (USA)
- Laura Chanchien Parajón, MD, MPH (USA)
- Rev. Dr. Jim Stinespring, D.Min. (USA)
- Rev. Kent Harrop, Secretary (USA)
- Rev. Mike Jeffries (USA)
- Robert McElroy, MD (USA)
- Rev. Dr. Tim Spring, D.Min., Treasurer (USA)
- Honorary Members:
- Dr. Suzanne Lake, PhD (USA)
- Arthur Francis, CA (UK)
- Marlene Francis, PhD (USA)