Meet the Volunteers Who Make Change Possible

I am a recent college graduate looking to serve before I go to medical school. I have done mission trips through One World Surgery and loved the mission of NPH, so I decided to get involved. I will be the Program Assistant to OWS and look forward to getting to work with and meet doctors and other healthcare professionals. My dream is to become an orthopedic surgeon so that I can be a clinical volunteer on missions all over the world. 

I first heard about NPH during my medical missions with One World Surgery in Honduras and was inspired by the story of NPH. Serving was deeply fulfilling and transformed my view of the world and my sense of purpose. I wanted to incorporate service more into my life and saw this time as the perfect opportunity to get involved with NPH. I am taking gap years between college and medical school, and I see this as a perfect time to embark on this grand adventure, growing as a person while I help others. 

Hi! I’m Nicole, and I’m from a town just outside of Boston. I graduated from Northwestern in June 2025 with a degree in neuroscience and plan to go to medical school after my year of service with NPH. I love to dance, sing, surf, and do anything that allows me to engage with nature and the people around me! 

When I first visited NPH DR in high school, I was inspired by the warmth of the community and the way everyone accepted me—a stranger—like family. I am so excited to return and help the pequeños grow up in a safe and loving environment every child deserves. In the OWS surgery center, I can’t wait to work with physicians and volunteers expanding access to life-changing medical care. 

Hello! My name is Trey, and I’m from Minneapolis, MN. I graduated from the University of Michigan in May 2024 with a major in Economics while on the pre-med track. I have a diverse range of interests and experiences, from public policy to helping build a race car in college to working at a biomedical device company focused on treating prostate cancer. Ultimately, my goal is to use these varied experiences to shape a career as a doctor. In my free time, I enjoy biking and running outdoors, hanging out with friends and family, and reading good books! 

Last year, I had the opportunity to volunteer with One World Surgery and NPH in Honduras for three weeks. I expected to connect with OWS’s mission, which I certainly did. Although I was less familiar with NPH beforehand, after spending time with the pequeños and staff, I became equally drawn to NPH’s values and mission. I left NPH with a strong desire to return, build stronger relationships with the pequeños, and hopefully play a positive role in their development. For these reasons, I’m incredibly excited to volunteer in the Dominican Republic and have the opportunity to work with both OWS and NPH! 

Hi! My name is Katy, and I graduated from Ithaca College in 2021 with a degree in occupational therapy. I am very family-oriented as I come from a large family (3 brothers and 3 sisters!) and now have many nieces and nephews to spoil. I have a passion for pediatrics and love seeing kids learn and grow. My other passions include travel, learning about other cultures, and health and wellness! 

I have been interested in the work NPH does since college and always hoped I would be able to be a part of it. In too many places, children with disabilities are seen as less than their peers and are not given the support they need to be successful. Beyond that, parents and families are not given the education needed to support their children. As an OT, I want to be part of NPH’s mission to love and support these kiddos!

Hello! My name is Aidan, I’m from the Chicago area, and I’ll be working as a research coordinator at the Holy Family Surgery Center in NPH Honduras. As an aspiring physician, I am genuinely excited and grateful to work with NPH and One World Surgery to improve health quality and access in the surrounding communities while serving as a mentor for youth. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, running, and playing the guitar. A fun fact about me is that I’m a huge comic book nerd! 

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit NPH DR for a week, and I was inspired not only by the excellent work NPH and OWS do for kids but also by the positive impact they have on the surrounding communities. One of my goals is to advocate for underserved populations, and the missions of NPH and OWS align with that vision. 

Hello! My name is Mary Owen, and I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I graduated in 2022 from Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in Spanish. Following my graduation, I completed a year of service with AmeriCorps at a nonprofit in Alamosa, Colorado, serving at a homeless shelter and food bank. After my AmeriCorps year, I worked at a local university for a federal program supporting first-generation students. I enjoy hiking, learning about new cultures, and traveling. I am excited to join the NPH family! 

I am eager to continue my passion for service with NPH as the Communications Officer Assistant in Guatemala! My AmeriCorps year taught me about the importance of seeing dignity in others, and I believe that NPH also upholds this value. I am drawn to the strong community that NPH offers, and I look forward to developing meaningful relationships with the children, volunteers, staff, and community members. I hope to contribute to the overall mission of NPH through my volunteer year and develop my language and cultural skills in Guatemala. 

Hi! My name is Lucy, and I’m from Minneapolis. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in May 2024. I majored in Genetics and Genomics with a minor in Environmental Studies. I hope to continue my education and pursue a degree in epidemiology or bioinformatics. I have an older brother, a younger sister, and two pups. I love being outdoors, traveling, baking, and both watching and playing fútbol! 

I am inspired to serve at NPH because I feel indebted to the kindness of strangers who sponsored my father to the United States. My family is from Vietnam and lived through a war. It’s only through luck and privilege that I’ve been able to grow up in a safe and loving home. I believe every child should be able to live in a safe environment, and serving at NPH allows me to help advocate for and protect children. I am extremely privileged to be able to dedicate my time to serve others. 

Hello everyone! This program truly feels like a natural progression for me. In 2022, I had the privilege of spending nearly six months in Peru teaching English outside of Cusco. Following that, I served in an AmeriCorps program as a case manager for a small homeless shelter in rural Colorado. Most recently, I worked as a permanent supportive housing case manager, assisting individuals transitioning out of homelessness to achieve self-identified goals. I am passionate about culture, language, and spending time with family and friends. I am very honored to be working with NPH Guatemala as a OneFamily Social Worker. 

When I was 17 years old, I had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua for a school trip. While I did not speak any Spanish at the time, I left with a newfound love and appreciation for the language and the warmth of Latin American culture. I have a very fond memory of promising myself that I would return to the region after such a brief yet impactful trip. Since then, I have been striving to improve my skills and enrich my passion for human connection as well as bridging cultural divides. In 2022, I served in Tankarpata, Peru, with a local nonprofit as an English teacher. When I came back to the United States, I again felt a strong desire to return to Latin America after such a profound experience. While I am blessed to have had two very formative years within the realm of social work in Colorado, I have been searching for a platform to answer this calling since. My parents, who are also current volunteers, introduced me to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos. After conversations with Jennifer Foster and Guatemala volunteer coordinator Sofía López, I knew that this program would feel like home for me.