Ashley Jakovljevic

Occupational therapist
 

Ashley is an Occupational Therapist, wife, proud mother of 2 terrific teenagers. She has been working with children in some capacity for the past 25 years. After completing her BHScOT at McMaster University, she worked in eastern Ontario for 10 years before settling back to her home-town of Brantford. Ashley is blessed with an energetic family who loves adventure, learning about different cultures, languages, lifestyles, and food through travel too. Ashley joined our team in 2016, and she is an invaluable resource for us and the children in Gracias.

Kristie Adamson

seating and positioning specialist
 

Kristie is the Seating and Positioning Specialist at Silver Cross in Simcoe. She has diplomas as an Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant. She grew up and still lives in the small town of Tillsonburg, Ontario with her dog Mookie, and fiancée Chris. She enjoys running with her dog, exploring new hiking trails and teaching exercise classes at the local fitness studio. Kristie is extremely excited for this opportunity to be able to put her knowledge and skills to use in Honduras and help children and families in need.

Melanie Clark

orthotist

Melanie is a Certified Orthotist who has been working at Biodesign Prosthetics and Orthotics for almost three years. She is Canadian Board Certified for Orthotics, and also has a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Science from McMaster University. When she isn’t working, Melanie enjoys knitting, reading, watching sports and doing volunteer work in her community. Melanie has been part of mission trips in the past, but has never had the chance to use her education and her career experience to help others. Melanie can’t wait to help children in Honduras have improved mobility!

Danielle Stampley

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Danielle has been involved with our team since 2013. She has studied Spanish for years and joined CHCHI to use that skill to help children in need. By day, she is an employment, labour, and human rights lawyer in Toronto, Ontario, though she is originally from the United States. She uses her organizational and advocacy skills to help our team prepare for our annual trip to Honduras, and to problem-solve after we arrive. In Honduras, Danielle loves working with parents and children to help them understand the doctors' recommendations and make sure their clinic visits run smoothly.

Dr. Fabian Gorodzinsky

FOUNDER & pediatrician

Dr. Gorodzinsky is one of the founders of CHCHI, and is a Community Pediatrician in London, Ontario who also works at the Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre. He is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Western University in London. Dr. Gorodzinsky has been a part of 16 missions to Honduras with this group. The first mission took place in 1998 following Hurricane Mitch. Since then, he has worked hard to make and maintain local contacts in Honduras and also has played an important role organizing each mission prior to departure.  Dr. Gorodzinsky is also the proud husband of Janice Gorodzinsky. His interests are clay sculpture and history.

Esther Kern

FOUNDER & NURSE

Esther is a veteran of the Canada- Honduras Children’s Health Initiative. She has been on 16 missions, and was also part of the first mission in 1998 following Hurricane Mitch. Esther completed her nursing training in Indiana and then spent 32 years of her career in London, Ontario at the London Health Sciences Centre working in many clinical areas, including Orthopedic Trauma, General Surgery, Urology, Clinical Neurosciences, and Rehabilitation. She also worked as a employee relations officer, nurse recruiter, clinical instructor in the Department of Nursing at Western University, and nurse manager. Her role in the last number of years on our missions has been in organizing donations and preparations, running the pharmacy, both dispensing the medications, and also providing medication information to families.