Christine Goudreau, RN, CDCES, CPT, BS Ed, a Certified Diabetes Educator at Halifax Health – Lohman Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, has returned from a mission trip to Honduras with other medical professionals. Her mission: to provide vital education and support to underserved communities and the Hospital Loma De Luz on how to thrive with diabetes. This journey is not only about medical care but also embodies a deeply personal commitment to giving back and making a lasting impact through The Cornerstone Foundation.
The Cornerstone Foundation is a Christian charitable organization formed in 1992 in response to a need to facilitate the construction and operation of a hospital-based Christian outreach on the Caribbean coast of Honduras where there had been no accessible medical care within a day’s travel. The operation is made possible by a committed Board of Directors, career missionaries, part-time volunteers and supporting churches and individuals. In 1994 a sister organization was formed in Honduras, Asociación Piedra Angular de Honduras, (APAH) to administer local operations and conform to Honduran legal requirements. The Cornerstone Foundation supports the following organizations:
Hospital Loma de Luz, which had its Grand Opening in January 2003, is a modern, 30,000-square-foot full-service hospital.
In 2004 El Camino, a Christian bilingual school, began as part of the Loma de Luz ministries.
In 2005 Sanctuary House Children’s Center, a Christian foster home, first opened as part of the outreach at Loma de Luz.
The need in this part of Latin America is concrete, ubiquitous, and “with you always.” Even before the devastation of recent Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and the political and economic tumult and backlash against Honduras for the difficult stance the country took for democracy, Honduras was classified as “the poorest nation on the mainland of the Americas.” An estimated 80% of the population lives in poverty. With a population of roughly 8 million, the per capita income is $830 per year, and the unemployment rate is above 40%. From a global comparison, Honduras is on the International Monetary Fund’s short list of the poorest of poor nations on this earth. And the lives of the people in the remote countryside, where we work, fall far below that statistical average for the country as a whole.
Dr. D. Scott Covington, a general surgeon and specialized wound care physician at Halifax Health who has gone on mission trips before, shared, “The opportunity to contribute to the well-being of underserved communities is a privilege and a responsibility. Witnessing the transformative impact of healthcare initiatives, such as the Holy Family Surgery Center, reaffirms the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing global health challenges. Every individual we reach, every life we touch, is a testament to the power of compassion.” Dr. Covington and their team performed much-needed surgeries during the mission.
Christine Goudreau, RN and Dr. Donald Scott Covington’s participation in this mission underscores the shared commitment of healthcare professionals to extend support beyond borders and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Their dedication reflects the values of Halifax Health and the Lohman Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, which recognizes the global significance of addressing healthcare disparities and providing holistic care to all.
For the Halifax Health – Lohman Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, this marks a milestone in its growth. The Center, founded with a generous gift from Lowell and Nancy Lohman has grown to offer two board-certified Endocrinologists and a full support staff including navigation, nutrition and diabetes education. According to Lowell Lohman, “It has been our aim to help local people thrive with diabetes and now we have the privilege to help people across the world learn more about the disease and apply that education to live their lives better. “
About Halifax Health:
Recognized as one of the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™ in the United States by IBM Watson Health™, Halifax Health serves Volusia and Flagler counties, providing a continuum of health care services through a network of organizations including a tertiary hospital, two community hospitals, an urgent care network, psychiatric services, a cancer treatment center with five outreach locations, the area’s largest hospice, a center for inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, primary care walk-in clinics, a clinic specializing in women’s health, a pediatric care community clinic, three children’s medical practices, a home healthcare agency, and an exclusive provider organization. Halifax Health offers the area’s only Level II Trauma Center, Center for Transplant Services, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Emergency Department with board-certified pediatricians on staff 24/7, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Services, OB Emergency Department and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for babies born earlier than 28 weeks. It’s also the area’s longest-standing Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC) offering complete Neurosurgical Services.
