More About Our Team
Directors
Anne Kraemer / Chief Executive Officer
Anne co-founded Maya Health Alliance | Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2006 and has served as our Executive Director since 2009. Her passion is building high-impact, collaborative, and culturally and linguistically appropriate health and development programs in Guatemala. Anne trained as a cultural anthropologist at the University of Kansas, where she received her master’s degree and completed doctoral coursework. She was the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship in 2007 to examine the relationship between rural Guatemalan communities and the NGOs that serve them. Anne lives in Guatemala with her family. She speaks Spanish and Kaqchikel.
Jill Hodges / Chief Communication and Development Officer
Jill joined in 2020 to lead our communications and development efforts. She has worked as a reporter, producer, analyst, and communications strategist in media, government, non-profit, and higher ed, including several stints in Guatemala. Before joining Maya Health | Wuqu’ Kawoq, she was Communications Director at the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society at the University of California, Berkeley. She has a master’s in public health from the University of Washington School of Public Health and a master’s in law from Yale Law School. She thrives on connecting people and ideas to advance health equity.
Waleska López Canu / Chief Medical Officer
Waleska is originally from Patzún, Chimaltenango and is proudly Kaqchikel Maya. She received her medical doctorate from the Autonomous University of Mexico and completed her clinical training at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala. Waleska has worked extensively in Mexico and Guatemala for Ministry of Health programs to extend coverage to rural areas. Her previous leadership experience includes managing a large team of healthcare providers serving in dozens of rural communities in the Department of Chimaltenango. She originally worked with Wuqu ‘Kawoq in 2010-11 and returned to our team in 2014.
Peter Rohloff / Chief Science and Innovation Officer
Peter is a co-founder of Wuqu ‘Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance in 2006 and he splits his time between Boston, where he is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School, and Guatemala, where he serves as our Chief Science and Innovation Officer. Peter received his MD / PhD from the University of Illinois and completed residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. Peter’s interests lie at the intersection of indigenous language support and global health delivery in Guatemala, and he leads our large team of researchers and clinicians in conducting innovative mixed methods research. He speaks Spanish, Kaqchikel, and K’iche ‘.
Team Leaders
Lily Ajú / Nutrition Program Manager
Lilian manages the thriving Family-Centered Nutrition Program. She started with Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2015 as an interpreter for Kaqchikel-speaking patients. She served as a research assistant and coordinator before becoming a program manager. She takes joy in earning the trust of patients who have lost confidence in the health system. Lilian is very adventurous and loves to go on excursions with her family. One of her greatest inspirations is her mother, a small business owner in Tecpán.
José Calderón / Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
José is a Sociologist, lover of social sciences, and committed to his country. He is oriented to learning and continuous improvement, and sees personal growth as an extension of professional growth. He has had the opportunity to work in different contexts and adapt to different situations, environments, and people, which has enriched him as an individual.
He currently works as Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at Wuqu’ Kawoq, an institution with which he shares principles and values, including providing opportunities to rural communities in a dignified and competent manner regardless of language or origin.
Carmen Cerezo / Doctor of Community Clinics
Carmen is originally from Guatemala City, where she obtained her degree in Medicine and her specialization in Pediatrics at Roosevelt Hospital. After finishing her degree, she became interested in projects aimed at rural populations with limited access to basic health services, working in the non-governmental sector and with the country’s Ministry of Health, with an emphasis on maternal and child health and nutrition.
During that time she worked in many parts of Guatemala that she did not know much about, such as the northeast and on farms on the south coast. She learned a lot about working with health promoters, including extraordinary young women who were trained in our program. She is convinced that they are the best allies for a doctor like her who is not from the locality. To date, one of her most enjoyable activities is training nurses and community workers in nutrition and child health.
She has worked in many different positions, always around issues of equity and quality of health services. She loves the outdoors, taking long walks, playing sports and rowing on Lake Atitlan.
Merida Isabel Coj / Human Resources Manager
Merida studied business administration in college and now manages our complex case program. She helps patients navigate the healthcare bureaucracy to ease the burden of their lives and help them get the medical care they deserve. Outside of work, she is a caring mother and spends time with her son riding a bike, going to soccer games, or watching movies.
David Flood / Staff Physician
David is a physician who helps coordinate our clinical, research, and training initiatives, especially those related to chronic diseases and malnutrition. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, his master’s degree in international health policy from the London School of Economics, and his training in internal medicine and pediatrics from the University of Minnesota. In addition to his role at Wuqu ‘Kawoq, he is a doctor and researcher at the University of Michigan. He speaks Spanish and Kaqchikel.
Magdalena Guarchaj / Child Development Research Program Manager
Magdalena is one of our Investigations Managers. She also is a nurse practitioner and manages our diabetes lifestyle and community outreach programs. She is K’iche Maya. In 2020, she represented Wuqu’ Kawoq in the El Colectivo committee, which joined forces to bring information on health, education, violence prevention, and Covid-19 prevention to rural communities via radio. She has experience in working with children, families and communities.
Yoli Juarez / Manager, Health for Life Program
Yoli is a registered nurse and manager of our Star and Mobile Health projects. She is in the field almost every day, walking from house to house to visit the families with whom she works. Yoli’s family is the center of her life. Her daughters inspire her to work hard every day to give them and her patients a bright future. She loves it when her family gets together for a movie or Christmas dinner.
Emily López / Development and Digital Communication Manager
Emily López is our Development and Digital Communication Manager. Spanish is her first language and she also speaks English. In 2021, she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Rafael Landívar University. She hopes to undertake a master’s degree in Digital Marketing. Before joining our team, she worked in the private sector. Emily is interested in communication strategies to improve global health among vulnerable populations.
She focuses on creating content that helps raise awareness of social problems in Guatemala to improve medical care for rural and indigenous populations by combining technology and the knowledge and skills of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team. Emily is part of a pioneering group developing informative materials on the Covid-19 pandemic in Mayan languages. Her research interests include using media campaigns to save lives and impact the economy, and social media tools to promote female empowerment.
Gabriela Montenegro / Research Fellow in Saqmolo Program
Dr. Gabriela is a Nutritionist and Research Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She leads the Early Complementary Feeding of Eggs in Rural Guatemala Project, Saqmolo. She received her nutrition degree from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, her master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences-International Public Health from the Vrije University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), and her PhD in Nutrition and Food Sciences from the University of Bonn (Germany).
Sandy Mux / Clinical Supervisor and Trainer for Women's Health
Sandy learned about Wuqu ‘Kawoq from a nurse who came to her town every week to work with people with diabetes. After hearing about the organization and its philosophy, she decided to apply. Sandy now works as the manager of our diabetes and women’s health programs. Every day, she feels that she can make a difference in society and change people’s lives. Outside of work, Sandy enjoys spending time with her family, especially on her birthday, and going to Laguna Brava in Huehuetenango.
Eva Ordoñez Tuiz / Child Development Research Program Manager
Eva is a professional nurse who manages our community efforts in chronic kidney disease and early childhood development.
Eddy Roquel / Operations Manager
Eddy is an agronomist who worked on our landscaping project. He passes his knowledge on to rural Guatemalan families, helping them find healthy and affordable food options. Eddy loves the outdoors, especially the Boca Costa area and the lush, forested areas of the Altiplano. He is also a loving father and has a close relationship with his son. Now Eddy is helping us with logistics and operations.
Nelly Analuisa Sequén Gómez / Awards and Partnerships Manager
Susana Tambriz /Women's Health Program Manager
Susana’s favorite part of working as a nurse with Maya Health is having the opportunity to empower women to make their own decisions about their bodies. She also likes to see children grow up happy and healthy. Susana’s daughter, whom she calls her “engine,” inspires her to continue to work hard and help patients access excellent health care. One of her favorite days of the year is the Day of the Dead, where families fly kites and gather to remember their loved ones who have passed away.
Carol Teleguario / Diabetes Program Coordinator
Carol is a free spirit who enjoys spending time in the Guatemalan countryside and visiting natural wonders such as Semuc Champey. She is also passionate about social justice issues and holds a degree in Indigenous Rights along with her nursing license. This combination of interests has made Carol a perfect fit for Maya Health Alliance, where she works as an educator in our diabetes program helping local Maya patients manage their illness.
Team Members
Angel Josue Ajin Macario / Pilot Nutrition Program
Originally from Tecpan, automotive mechanic and graphic designer, Pilot Nutrition Program in the institution of Wuqu Kawoq. Something of great admiration in the institution is the responsibility, the great mutual respect without discrimination by religion or language
Iris Alarcón / Programmer
Carlos Bacajol / Logistics Manager Saqmolo' Program
Carlos is from Acatenango, Chimaltenango, He is an accountant expert. At Wuqu’ Kawoq, he develops, plans, and organizes Saqmolo´ activities to contribute to the improvement of the children of the communities in the district of Tecpán.
Jenny Bartolomin / Supervising Nurse
Jenny is a Supervising Nurse in the Salud Para la Vida Program. She has a Bachelor of Nursing and has been part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team since 2017. She works in Chimaltenango and Quiché. She is married and has an 8-year-old daughter.
Glendy Rosibel Batzibal Calí / Women Health Tecnician
Originally from the community of Panimacoc, she graduated as an accountant with an orientation in computer science and professional midwifery technician. She is very adventurous and loves to practice yoga as well as collecting medicinal plants, she currently holds the position of women’s health technician. What she admires the most about the institution of wuqu’ kawoq is the opportunity for empowerment for rural areas, especially the importance Wuqu´Kawoq gives to the languages and cultures.
Liria Carina Batzibal Calí / Nutrition Technician
Liria is originally from the Panimacoc village of Tecpán. She graduated as a Bilingual Intercultural Primary Education Teacher, Social Work Technician, with a focus on Sustainable Development. She is a Nutrition Technician with the Saqmolo´project. She admires the quality care that Wuqu’ Kawoq provides to patients, regardless of their origin or language, and the organization’s commitment to health in rural communities.
Vilma Borón / Nutrition Technician
As one of our team’s nutrition technicians, Vilma helps children in rural Guatemala grow up to be happy and healthy. She enjoys home visits where she gets a chance to connect with families and see the results of her work firsthand. She loves to run and visit the nearby town of Antigua, where she has many fond memories of times with her grandparents.
Doroteo Boron Socop / Driver
Damaris Sucely Cabrera Cristal / Diabetes Educator
Damaris, originally from Tecpán, Chimaltenango, is a student of Business Administration. She has worked at Wuqu’ Kawoq since 2016 in the research programs: Mobile Health, Stars, World Diabetes, and Health Chronicle. It has been an enormous blessing for her to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq family because of the opportunities to support our indigenous communities by promoting development, empowering women and preserving our mother tongues. She’s inspired by touching the hearts of patients through the education and clinical care they receive.
Meylin Yahayra Canú Xinico / Programming Analyst
Meylin is from Chimaltenango. She is an expert accountant with a focus on computers. She is studying Information Systems Engineering and Computer Science. She held the position of Programmer Analyst for the development of advanced applications for the Android platform. She currently has the Java programmer certification (SDK -J2EE), Mobile APP Development certification, Front End Web Developer certification, and Introduction to Azure certification. She is passionate about learning new technologies to continue earning certifications and diplomas. She admires the work, effort, and dedication that Wuqu’ Kawoq devotes to each person.
Evelyn Jasmina Calel Borón / Implementer Saqmolo’ Program
Evelyn is originally from Tecpán, Guatemala. She is an expert accountant and a high school teacher of mathematics and physics. She worked previously as a project manager at the Ixmukane Bilingual Educational Center and as a teacher at the Miguel Ángel Asturias Municipal Institute. At Wuqu’ Kawoq, she is a nutrition technician with the Saqmolo´team. She is inspired to be part of the the small changes that can be brought to her country by fighting malnutrition. Her goal is to raise awareness and support each participant to improve the growth and development of boys and girls.
Elida Charuc / Field Nurse
Elida is of Kaqchikel origin, and lives in the municipality of San Pedro Yepocapa in the department of Chimaltenango. She joined Wuqu Kawoq in May 2017 and is a field nurse in the Chimaltenango area.
She enjoys spending time with her family. She feels very blessed and grateful to God for the opportunity to be part of the great Wuqu’ Kawoq family. Her motivation is to continue helping many women in need and giving her children the education that she could not access due to lack of financial resources.
Mirsa Azucena Chan Cortez / Nutrition Technician
Mirsa Azucena Chan Cortez is originally from the Cruz de Santiago village in Tecpán, Chimaltenango. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Letters with a computer focus. She is a Kaqchikel speaker. She joined Wuqu’ Kawoq as a Nutrition Technician in 2020. She works with chronically malnourished children in the communities of Paraxquin and Paxorotot. For her, it is a great pleasure to work with each family to see their children grow and their health improve each month.
Blanca Chiroy / Nutrition Technician
Blanca is a Nurse and Nutrition Technician who works with our nutrition programs and complex cases. She is passionate about women’s health and very much enjoys visiting the families she works with in their homes. Blanca is also very close to her family and takes frequent trips with them to the countryside or the coast. She is also a competitive athlete who dreams of being a soccer champion!
Isabel Chiroy / Nurse with Friendship Bridge Partnership Program
Isabel is a nurse with our Women’s Health program in partnership with Friendship Bridge. She is a compassionate professional who enjoys connecting with her patients and seeing the look in their eyes after receiving excellent service. Isabel loves to sing and dance. She also has ambitious travel goals, hoping one day to make it to the US or Israel.
Mayda Veronica Chitic Morales / Field Nurse
Mayda Verónica Chitic Morales joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2022 as a field nurse for the Health for Life program. She is from Caserío Cucabaj and Caja de Agua. Colonia el Campo, Chiché, El Quiché.
She studied as a Nursing Technician in Sololá. Her favorite hobbies are listening to music, playing soccer, and being with her family. She feels happy and proud to be part of the team and practice her profession as a nurse.
Brenda Vicenta Chavajay Méndez / Nursing Technician
Brenda is from San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá, where they speak the Tzutujil language. She is currently studying at university. In her third year as a Nursing Technician, she is working at Wuqu’ Kawoq in the Health for Life program, doing health promotion, working at mobile clinics, providing family planning follow-up visits, and communicating to patients about the importance of chronic disease prevention.
Aroldo Chocojay / Warehouse Manager
Aroldo is our Warehouse Manager. He speaks Kaqchiquel as his mother tongue and Spanish as a second language. He graduated from GALILEO University as a middle school teacher in mathematics and physics and worked in public schools teaching elementary school children before joining the team. Aroldo is very excited to be part of an organization that focuses on helping people who have been marginalized because he likes to be part of development in Guatemala.
Cecia Chonay / Care Navigator
Cecia is a health navigator with our Stars program, helping rural Guatemalans work through the complexities of the local healthcare system. She is always driven to perform her best, whether at work or in her studies, which continue in her spare time. Cecia is also very close with her family and loves to catch up with them on the weekend.
Marleny Chonay / General Secretary
Dina is our general secretary and helps in many ways with all of our programs. She enjoys everything about her job, especially her daily interactions with the other members of our team. Dina is also a committed mother and her son inspires her to work hard every day. When she has time, Dina likes to visit the beach in Monterrico with her family.
Karyn Choy / Research Assistant
Karyn earned her business degree in the US and now works as a nutrition manager in our women’s health and complex case programs. Her ambition and her hard work are motivated by her son, Santiago, who gives his mother the confidence she needs to change the world. In her spare time, Karyn likes watching movies and enjoying the outdoors with friends.
Melvin Colorado / Driver
Mardoqueo Colorado Matzer / Driver
Mardoqueo was born in Tecpán. He studied waiter courses at INTECAP and worked as a waiter at Katok y Paulinos Restaurant. He joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2019 as a driver and is very happy to be part of the team.
Tomasa Yamima Conoz Ajanel / Field Nurse
Tomasa joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in February 2023. She is originally from the Chicua Segundo Cantón, Chichicastenango, Quiché. She is currently a Field Nurse with the Health for Life team.
Tomasa studied Professional Nursing at Panamerican University. She likes caring for people in both community and hospital settings and loves to help patients recover. Her main professional goals are to treat those who are ill and promote preventive health. Her favorite hobby is watching series online. She feels lucky to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team.
Julia Irene Coxaj Cuy / Research Assistant
Julia Irene Coxaj Cuy joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in March 2023. She is Maya Kaqchikel and originally from San José Chacayá. She works with the Culturally and Linguistically Adapted Vaccine Education (CLAVE) program and in the post-pandemic recovery project as a research assistant.
Julia studied social work. Her favorite pastimes are traveling and spending time with family and friends. She deeply believes that her voice and her childhood experiences lacking access to many opportunities inform her work today. She feels that being part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team is a blessing.
Luisa Cuc Ixjotop / Health Educator
Alicia Cuc / Nurse with Friendship Bridge Partnership Program
Alicia is a nurse with our health program in partnership with Friendship Bridge. Every day, she visits patients in their homes, making personal connections and bringing excellent care. Alicia is very compassionate and always driven to help as many people as possible. One of her favorite places in Guatemala is the mountainous lakeshore of Lake Atitlán.
Claudia Cumes Bal / Navigator
Claudia is originally from one of the communities of Tecpán, Paxorotot. She learned about Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2017, when she experienced complications in her first pregnancy. A Navigator from our Mobile Health Program helped her overcome her fears and access the hospital services she needed. Inspired by that experience, she joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2018 as a Navigator for Obstetric Care to help other mothers feel safer and more confident seeking and receiving care in hospitals, where they may face difficulties such as language, machismo, and unfamiliarity with the system. She is proud and happy to be a Navigator of obstetric sare. She is married with two children.
Alejandrina Garcia / Nurse, Friendship Bridge Partnership Program
Alejandrina’s greatest inspiration is her mother, whom she admires for her strong sense of perseverance. She tries to follow this example as a nurse working with women and families through our partners at Friendship Bridge. Alejandrina is also a music enthusiast and loves the piano in particular.
Sara Hernández / Child Development Research Assistant
Since she was little, Sara wanted to work with young children, so she always wanted to be a teacher. Her motivation for a career in education led her to study a Bachelor’s degree in Psychopedagogy at the Universidad del Istmo. At the same university she also obtained a Professorship in Special Education, a Professorship in Primary Mathematics and a Bachelor’s degree in General Psychology. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2017, she landed a job researching the effects of Zika on children’s neurodevelopment at the University of Colorado. The investigation led her to work and live in a village in southwestern Guatemala. Here, she had the opportunity to learn about the reality of childhood in the country, including malnutrition and its effects on a child’s development. Since then, child development has been her greatest interest. She has worked in a variety of positions focused on children and adolescents in vulnerability. In addition, she started a learning center for parents, where she provided workshops on Child Development and Timely Stimulation. She is currently in a Master’s program studying Child and Adolescent Development Management at Rafael Landívar University. She is excited to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team, due to the diverse and culturally appropriate work they do for the health and development of children, as well as their mothers.
Evelyn Abigail Hernandez / Field Nurse
Sucely Hernández / Field Nurse
Mariela Ixcayá / Field Nurse
Mariela Ixcayá joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in July 2022 as a Field Nurse for the Health for Life team. She is from San Pablo la Laguna, Sololá.
Mariela Ixcayá has studied to be a Technician in Professional Nursing at Da Vinci University. She likes going out to discover the natural resources of our country and listening to music. She feels happy to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team.
Mérida Anavely Jiatz Sincal / Cleaning
Duglas López / Programming Analyst
Duglas, originally from the department of Chimaltenango, lives in Caliaj, a village in Tecpán. He is an accounting expert and a high school teacher in computer science. He has completed his studies in Information Systems Engineering and Computer Science. He currently works on the Mobile Applications project as a Programmer Analyst at Wuqu ‘Kawoq. He likes to learn about new technologies that help provide solutions to people’s needs through the implementation of computer systems and applications.
María Adelaida López Pérez / Nurse
Libni Margarita Meletz Cumátz / Field nurse
Libni joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in July 2022 as a Field Nurse for the Health for Life program. She is from San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá.
Libni studied for a Nursing Technician career at Panamerican University. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, reading, riding a motorcycle, and playing soccer. She feels happy and lucky to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team.
Lucrecia Morales / Implementer Saqmolo’ Program
Lucrecia is originally from the community of Chuti-Estancia, San Andrés Semetabaj, Sololá. Her profession is Business Administration with a focus on Computing. Her previous positions have included working as an accounting assistant and with the association ITZAMNA. She is currently a Nutrition Technician for the Saqmolo´program. At Wuqu´Kawoq, she really admires the the teamwork and attention to the well-being staff. Her goal is to raise awareness among her patients to improve the quality of their diets. She enjoys working with marginalized communities.
Aura Aida Ortiz / Field Nurse
Aura joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in February 2023 as Field Nurse for Health for Life. She is from Samayac Suchitepéquez.
Aura studied at the Samayac Adult School, Ineb Institute, then at the Western University, UDEO, with a degree in nursing. Her favorite pastimes are being with her son, going to church, and playing soccer. She feels very grateful to the organization for giving her the opportunity to take part in the health of patients.
Sonia Palacios / Supervising Nurse
Irma Yolanda Pilo / Mobile Health Manager
Irma is originally from Sololá, and currently lives in Tecpán. She is an Early Childhood Education Teacher and professional nursing technician. She studied nursing in college and is currently working as a Nutrition Technician and recruiter for the Saqmoló team. She admires the respect, regardless of language and origin, that the team offers in supporting rural communities in rural Guatemala.
María Alejandra Pinzón Rosales / Nutritionist in WK Child Development Programs
Originally from Tecpán Guatemala, she is a nutritionist and currently works as a nutritionist at Wuqu’Kawoq. Something she admires about this institution is the gap they are breaking to provide comprehensive, quality health without distinction of creed, language and origin for rural communities.
Roselia Quina / General Accountant
Roselia is a member of our accounting team, and she plays the crucial role of managing our finances and ensuring that our programs run smoothly. She is adventurous and loves planning trips to explore different parts of Guatemala with her friends. To this day, she has climbed seven of the 32 volcanoes in Guatemala and wants to climb more. One of Roselia’s heroes is Doña Nicolasa Cuxun, a sixty-year-old Mayan woman who participates in distance races wearing traditional clothing.
Yeymi Ramírez / Accounting Assistant
Dominga Ramos Ciprián / Field Nurse, Health for Life Program
Originally from Barrio Central in the municipality of Joyabaj in the department of Quiché. Profession is Secretary and Clerk and Professional Nurse, currently working as a Field Nurse in the Health for Life program in the institution Wuqu Kawoq. Her goal is to continue to be part of the team to support our indigenous community, something she admires is the priority given to patients in rural areas, as they are provided health services in their native language, see the satisfaction of patients and understand and appreciate the services provided to them.
Yolanda Raquec / Nurse
Yoli is a nurse with our Women’s Health and Nutrition programs. She travels every day to small rural communities, bringing expert care and guidance to her patients. Her six-year-old son and family motivate Yoli to follow her passion and set new goals for herself every day. When she does have time to relax, Yoli enjoys listening to music and watching action movies.
Irma Robles / Nutrition Technician
Irma works in the Bocacosta region. Her work includes a mix of visiting patients in their homes and at our clinics. Her favorite part of her job is being able to spend time with kids and talk with moms about nutrition. Originally from the Bocacosta, she studied to become an elementary school teacher at the Insitiuto Profesional de Educación. In her free time, she loves to listen to Christian music. She speaks Spanish and K’iche.
Hans Roche / Chemist Biologist
Hans joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in July 2022 to lead the Wuqu’ Kawoq microbiology lab in Santiago Sacatepéquez. He is from Guatemala City.
He studied Biological Chemistry at the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC). He works as a Microbiology assistant at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy USAC, as well as a Quality Supervisor at Alimentos Maravilla, an Analyst in the Virology Area at the National Health Laboratory, and a Consultant at the MSPAS-HIV Grant Logistics Management Unit.
He is inspired to help people in need. He is grateful to be a part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team, and to put his knowledge and effort into practice and work to achieve the vision of this organization. He speaks Spanish and English. He is interested in learning science and technology to help people and the environment.
Wendy Rodríguez / Affiliated Physician
Karen Romero / Nutrition Technician
Karen is originally from the municipality of San Juan Ostuncalco. She lives in the village of San Juan Ostuncalco, where many men work as potato and milpa farmers, exporting their products to El Salvador, and women are weavers. She is a pre-primary education teacher and enjoys working with children. At Wuqu’ Kawoq she has appreciated learning about malnutrition and nutrition and how to help mothers whose children are experiencing malnutrition. She works in Aldea Nueva Concepción as a Nutrition Technician. She is motivated by supporting the physical and mental development of children through healthy nutrition.
Blanca Romero / Nutrition Technician
Blanca ives in San Juan Ostuncalco. She is a teacher of Intercultural Bilingual Early Childhood Education. She is working as a Nutrition Technician in the Nutrition Program with children between six months and two years of age. She loves children, and likes to embroider and make crafts.
Ashley Rocío Salazar Juárez / Nurse
Ashley was born and raised in Santa Cruz Balanyá Chimaltenango, where she currently lives. She is a primary education teacher and a university technician in Nursing. She previously worked as a teacher training of nursing assistants. She currently works for the Wuqu’ Kawoq Health for Life program as a field nurse. She is grateful for the opportunity to work in the communities and to provide services to help patients improve their health. She is committed to continue learning and strengthening her knowledge to provide patients with quality care. She enjoys spending time with her family and with patients and walking outdoors.
Olga Marina Saloj Chiyal / Nutrition Technician
Olga grew up in the central Chaquijyá village of Sololá. She is currently working as a Nutrition Technician in our Saqmolo project in Tecpán, Chimaltenango.
Andy Maricela Sanic Miich / Accountant
Andy Maricela Sanic Miich joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2023 as an Accountant. She is originally from San Juan Comalapa.
Andy has a technical degree in accounting and is currently studying for a bachelor’s in Public Accounting. Her hobbies are reading and listening to music. She is happy to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team.
Yesenia Serech Ajquijay / Patient Care Coordinator
Rosa Olivia Sirín / Nutrition Technician
Rosa is originally from Chuacruz San José Poaquil Caserío. She graduated with training as a teacher and social worker. In 2021, she joined the Wuqu’ Kawoq team as a Nutrition Technician in the Saqmolo’ project.
Julio Sotz / Counselor for Sexual and Reproductive Health
Julio joined Wuqu Kawoq in May 2022. He is from Aldea la Canoa, Patzicia, Chimaltenango. He is a Counselor in Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Women’s Health Program.
Julio obtained several scholarships during his studies. In 2021, he completed a degree in Professional Nursing at the Rafael Landívar University in the Faculty of Health Sciences, headquartered in Antigua Guatemala. He is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in Nursing at the Da Vinci University of Guatemala at the Chimaltenango headquarters. He also recently completed the 20-hour breastfeeding course taught by PAHO, WHO, and Unicef.
In his spare time, he likes to go out and do sports, especially marathons or cycling.
Rosibely Sut / Mobile Health Coordinator
Rosibely was born in the village of Chuatzunuj, Tecpan. She graduated school as an accountant, but she looked for a way to contribute more to her community. Rosibely joined our team as one of our first Care Navigators (Chajinel en Kaqchikel) in our Maternal Mobile Health Program. She understands deeply the situation rural indigenous women confront in Guatemala and she puts her heart and soul into her work, including reporting maternal abuse in the hospital as a navigator. She was promoted to assistant in the program where she learned how to work closely with the midwives, training them on continued use of the cell phone application, high risk signs during pregnancy, and how to implement and use the addition of the neonatal application to identify infants in danger in the first days of life. She was promoted to Coordinator of the program, where she serves today. She speaks Kaqchikel Maya and Spanish.
Alison Florentina Suy Tulul / Field Nurse
Alison joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2023 as a Field Nurse for the Health for Life program. She’s originally from Caserío Chuicozá, Aldea Guinelaes, Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Sololá.
Alison is studying for a Nursing Technician career at the Universidad de Occidente headquarters In Retalhuleu. She enjoys listening to music and watching videos with her son. She feels lucky to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team.
Julia Tambriz Tzoc / Field Nurse
Julia has been with Wuqu’ Kawoq since 2022 as a Field Nurse for the Health for Life team. She’s from Aldea Xejuyup, Nahualá, Sololá.
Julia studied as a Nursing Technician with a Primary Care orientation at the Rafael Landívar University, Quetzaltenango campus. Her favorite hobbies are sleeping and singing. She feels grateful and happy to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team.
Johana Raquec Teleguario/ Research Assistant Gardens Program
Johana was born in Patzún, Chimaltenango. She graduated as an accountant with a computer orientation. She speaks the Kaqchikel language and Spanish. She started working at Wuqu’ Kawoq on the research staff and has worked on the gardens program. She also works as a nutrition technician.
Byron Enrique Tian Cobox / Health for Life Logistics Assistant
Neldrick Tichoc / Warehouse Assistant
Neldrick, a resident of Santa Cruz Balanya in the department of Chimaltenango, graduated as an expert accountant with a specialty in commercial computing. He is currently pursuing a degree in public accounting and auditing. His has worked as a purchase manager for the municipality of Santa Cruz Balanya, and as an accounting teacher for Runawal Balamya. He is active in his church. At Wuqu’ Kawoq, he is a warehouse assistant. He appreciates the environment and the opportunities that are given to each person to be part of Wuqu’ Kawoq without discrimination.
Scott Tschida / Research Assistant
Scott joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2020 as a researcher and works on diabetes and early childhood development projects. He received his B.S. in Human Physiology from the University of Oregon and his MPhil in International Community Health from the University of Oslo. Scott’s interests include using implementation science frameworks and mixed-methods to understand how contextual factors impact an intervention’s success.
Reyna Tumax / Nurse
Reyna is a Nurse with our Women’s Health Program. She is from Santo Tomás La Unión, Suchitepéquez and she speaks Ki’che’. One of the things that inspired her to become a nurse is her father, who is a dedicated Community Health Worker. Learn more about Reyna in this video!
Jeany Tzoc / Nurse, Friendship Bridge Partnership Program
Jeany is a nurse working in our program with Friendship Bridge in the department of Quiché. She loves the area where she works for its rich traditions and kind people. When Jeany isn’t out in the field, she likes to be at home with her baby boy, who inspires her to continue working to provide basic necessities for other families.
Luisa Florinda Tzunux Joj / Field nurse
Luisa es miembro de la organización Wuqu’ Kawoq desde el 19 de septiembre de 2022 originaria de Santa María Chiquimula del departamento de Totonicapán colabora actualmente en el equipo de Salud Para La Vida en el puesto de Enfermera de campo.
Luisa ha estudiado en la Universidad Rafael Landívar en el Campus de Quetzaltenango, en el mes de abril 2022 terminó sus estudios en el Técnico en Enfermería con Orientación en Atención Primaria. Su pasatiempo favorito es Jugar Futbol y salir a correr por las mañanas ella se siente Feliz al formar parte del equipo de Wuqu’ Kawoq.
Lesvia Vasquez / Nurse, Friendship Bridge Partnership Program
Family is at the center of Lesvia’s life. She loves when they come together through food, cooking, and enjoying traditional dishes from Tecpán. She also has a close relationship with her brother, whose positive attitude is something she admires and brings with her to her work in the field. Lesvia is a nurse with our program in association with Friendship Bridge. In her day-to-day work, she enjoys going out into the fresh air of rural Guatemala, and helping women overcome obstacles to care.
Irma Yolanda Velasquez Matias / Navigator
Irma is a Navigator. She likes to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team because it is an opportunity to help rural communities in her country. She likes to listen to Christian music, and her favorite food is pepián and stew. She is married and enjoys spending her free time with her two sons and two daughters.
Floridalma Betzaida Vicente Poz / Supervisor Health for Life
Floridalma joined Wuqu’ Kawoq in 2022 and is a Health for Life team Supervisor at the Santo Tomás la Unión agency. She is from Santo Tomás Suchitepéquez.
She is currently completing her nursing degree. She enjoys playing soccer. She feels very satisfied to be part of the Wuqu’ Kawoq team.
Brenda Yolanda Xico Ajsivinac / Health for Life Nurse
Originally from the municipality of Patzicía, Brenda currently lives in La Aldea el Caman. She is a Certified Public Accountant and Nursing Technician and is currently studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. She works as a Field Nurse for the Salud Para la Vida team. She admires the dignified treatment given to each of the patients that we serve in their mother tongue. She also appreciates the quality and warmth of the services provided in rural communities that otherwise cannot count on timely healthcare.
Estela Xoquic / Nutrition Technician
Estela was born in Sololá. She trained as a primary education teacher and graduated from the Private Normal School, Sololá. She also completed a Diploma in Nutrition. She was excited to put her knowledge into practice when she joined Wuqu´ Kawoq in 2018 as a Nutrition Technician. She currently works in Chuti-Estancia, Canoas Bajas, and Godínez, villages in the municipality of San Andrés Semetabaj, Sololá. Blanca’s daily work includes visiting the families of children enrolled in the Nutrition Program to learn about their diets, monitor their weight and height, and provide individualized counseling and nutrition supplementation. All of this is to improve the growth, quality of life, and development of each child, and minimize the chronic malnutrition that affects San Andrés Semetabaj, as well as all of Guatemala.
Silvia Xoquic / Nurse, Friendship Bridge Partnership Program
Silvia is a nurse with our women’s health program in partnership with Friendship Bridge. She is a loving mother and is inspired every day by her baby to help other women live healthy lives. In particular, she strives to overcome the language barriers that prevent many Guatemalans from receiving quality care. In addition to work, Silvia is also passionate about soccer and plays regularly in her free time.
Sandra Teresa Xulá / Field Nurse
