Nathan Smith
Dr. Nathan Smith is a post graduate researcher and consultant that works with nonprofits, churches and low income schools around the world to develop sustainable strategies for restoration and transformation. As a part of his dissertation research he developed a process for engaging change that has the capacity to be applied across contexts and need, providing a platform for unity and collaboration where dysfunction and divisiveness were formerly present. Nathan has served on several boards of directors over the years and is excited to bring his expertise and enthusiasm to Hands On Peru.
Nathan has been married to Nicole for 23 years and has two children, Miles 17 and Willow 7. He is an active cyclist that rides around 10,000 miles per year and has been known to find ways to combine his love for riding and community wellness initiatives, allowing him to ride more miles in new places.
Dr. Erick Kauffman, MD, MPH
Eric received his medical degree and Masters of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh in 1997 and completed his training in family practice in 2000 at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. He came to Neighborhood Family Practice, a Community Health Center to fulfill his service commitment with the National Health Service Corps. Dr. Kauffman has made his career at Neighborhood Family Practice and was appointed the Chief Medical Officer in 2013.
Under his leadership, the health center has grown in both size and scope and presently serves over 22,000 patients at 6 offices. NFP strives to provide a comprehensive primary care experience for its patients and in the past 5 years added a dental clinic, a pharmacy, lactation services and Medically Assisted Treatment (maintenance treatment for Opioid addiction). NFP has a large Behavioral Health department including adult and child psychiatry. NFP has a growing midwifery service that is integrated with our family practice care and lactation team. NFP also performs health screening for newly arriving refugees and cares for a growing population of refugees from around the world. NFP is proud of the quality and breadth of services that it provides to all patients regardless of their insurance or economic status.
Dr. Kauffman met Hands on Peru Founder Rosa Sanchez during her study in Cleveland as part of a US State-sponsored Exchange Program for young leaders of Latin America and the Caribbean. He is honored to be a board member and adviser to HOP and excited to help advance the mission of community development through the improvement of public health and education.
Mary Katherine Devane
Mary Katherine DeVane brings over a decade of experience across healthcare, life sciences, and executive leadership to the Hands on Peru Board of Directors. She currently consults for a venture capital firm backing early-stage biotech and pharmaceutical companies advancing innovative therapies. Previously, she coached pharmaceutical and biotech executives and key opinion leaders on high-impact communications, and earlier in her career managed a multi-site medical practice and clinical laboratory. Mary Katherine holds an MBA and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Pfeiffer University and a B.A. in Psychology and Neuroscience from UNC Wilmington. A lifelong volunteer who has served communities around the world, she was introduced to Hands on Peru through founder Katie Baric.
“Hands on Peru reflects what global health should look like at its best — building lasting infrastructure, empowering local communities, and emphasizing equitable preventive care opportunities. I’m honored to support a mission that is centered in the community and invests in long-term well-being.”
Carlyn Harris
Carlyn Harris, MD, MPH is an Internal Medicine–Primary Care resident physician at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her MD from Emory University School of Medicine and received her Master of Public Health from the University of Edinburgh as a Rotary International Global Grant Scholar. Her global health work has included hantavirus research in Panama as a Fulbright Scholar, as well as HIV prevention research in Lima, Peru. During residency, Carlyn also spends two months studying tropical medicine in Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon.
Carlyn’s academic interests include infectious disease epidemiology, sexual health, HIV prevention, tropical medicine, and community-based medicine and research. She is passionate about advancing health equity and reducing barriers to healthcare access. Carlyn first learned about Hands on Peru and CESAPU through her husband, who is from Huanchaco. As a physician, she is inspired by Hands on Peru’s integrative approach to improving health through primary care, nutrition education, public health initiatives, and women’s economic empowerment. She is excited to be part of the Hands on Peru team and to contribute to work that promotes accessible, community-centered healthcare and meaningful global health partnerships.
Garrett Nelli
Garrett Nelli, AIA, is an architect and designer based in Seattle, Washington, with over a decade of experience across the commercial, residential, and civic sectors. Grounded in regional sustainability and community-driven design, Garrett brings a rigorous technical lens to projects that prioritize human impact and local identity.
His partnership with Hands on Peru began in 2019, when he stepped in pro-bono to lead the architectural design for the vertical expansion of the CESAPU clinic in Huanchaco. Over the years, Garrett has worked closely with the organization to realize this second-floor addition, creating a dedicated, light-filled workshop space for the Chimuk women’s knitting collective. Now serving on the organization’s board working group, he leverages his background in project management and creative design to help amplify Chimuk’s brand presence, and elevate the broader Hands on Peru mission.
“Hands on Peru is a grassroots, on-the-ground organization making a direct and lasting impact in Huanchaco and the surrounding region. Their multifaceted approach; intersecting health, community, and economic empowerment, demonstrates what a real difference looks like when you operate as a true, trusted community partner.”
Katie Blum
Katie Blum has dedicated her career to advancing the mission of non-profit organizations, schools, museums, and universities. She is deeply committed to supporting the needs and rights of children and families living in the most limited resource communities. While Katie was traveling on a mission trip to Honduras in 2023, she met Katie Baric and discovered the beautiful work of Hands on Peru, CESAPU, and the Chimuk initiative. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in Spanish and a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education. Katie speaks Spanish and English fluently, and she currently resides in North Carolina.
“As a Board Member for Hands of Peru, I feel passionate about supporting the Chimuk initiative and utilizing my marketing and communication skills to support the flourishing growth of the organization.”
Dr. José Cabrejo Paredes, MD, MPH, DHA
Dr. José Cabrejo is the “padrino”, or godfather, of CESAPU. He met co-founders Katie Baric and Rosa Sanchez in 2016 and was inspired by their passion to change the face of healthcare in Peru to one that focuses more on prevention. As the coordinator of Family and Community Medical Residents of the Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, he immediately sent his medical residents to rotate in CESAPU as a show of his great support for this project, and continues until this day to remain involved with his residents, expertise and experience.
His qualifications include: Registered and certified doctor. Specialist in Family and Community Medicine. Specialist in Medical Audit. Doctor in Public Management, Doctor of Medicine and Master in Public Health with a minor in Planning and Management. Associate Professor of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the National University of Trujillo. General Coordinator of the Family and Community Medicine Resident FMUNT. Director of the Postgraduate Unit in Medical Sciences UNT. Postgraduate Professor of Public Health at the National University of Trujillo and other universities. Member of the National Directory of Researchers CONCYTEC. President of the SOPEMFYC North Branch. Representative of the Peruvian Academy of Health North Region. President of the Peruvian Society of Doctors and Sub-Coordinator of the Peruvian Bioethics Network -UNESCO.