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-Founder and Executive Director
Dr. David Parajón, a physician, public health practitioner, social entrepreneur, and medical missionary (International Ministries), 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. Laura Chanchien Parajón, MD, MPH
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
Dr. 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 has worked in the health equity “trenches” of rural Nicaragua for the past 18 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
Country Director
Dr. 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 Country Director, she served for three years as the Community Health Director of Programs, where she managed 12 health initiatives in 6 different regions of Nicaragua, overseeing 21 people in her charge, and prior to that, she acted as AMOS’ Medical Teams Coordinator and the “El Samaritano” Clinic Director for four years.
Christine Lafferty
Development and Communications Director
christine.lafferty@amoshealth.org
Lester Lorente
Community Projects and Innovation Director
Luisa Durón
Mission Partnerships Manager
delegations@amoshealth.org
Marissa Alaniz
Donor Relations Officer
marissa.alaniz@amoshealth.org
Jilmer Sánchez
Delegations Coordinator
delegations@amoshealth.org
Lydia Caldera
Development Coordinator
communications@amoshealth.org
Ximena Medrano
Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer.coordinator@amoshealth.org
Alyssa Luisi
Grants Manager
Keyra Baca
Communications 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)
- Carmen Largaespada, PhD (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)
- Lydia Ruth Zamora, RN, PhD (Nicaragua)
- Rev. Dr. Jim Stinespring, D.Min. (USA)
- Rev. Kent Harrop, Secretary (USA)
- Rev. Mike Jeffries (USA)
- Octavio Cortés (Nicaragua)
- Robert McElroy, MD (USA)
- Román Santamaría, DDS (Nicaragua)
- Sixto Ulloa (Nicaragua)
- Rev. Dr. Tim Spring, D.Min., Treasurer (USA)
- Honorary Members:
- Dr. Suzanne Lake, PhD (USA)
- Arthur Francis, CA (UK)
- Marlene Francis, PhD (USA)