Co-fellow
Bernard Banda
Placement Country: United States
Title: Program Implementation Specialist
Every single person, regardless of their race or ethnicity, their social class, their gender identity, or where they were born has the right to quality health care that honors their humanity and illness narrative.
Originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Maria Ruiz immigrated to the USA as a teenager and has called Missouri home for the last four years. She is a tenacious women's health advocate in both the USA and Central America. Maria’s experience as an immigrant sparked her interest in human rights and health disparities among Spanish-speaking populations. Prior to joining GHC, María moved to the Western Highlands of Guatemala, where she worked to increase access to health services for indigenous individuals with disabilities. Maria completed her undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis. She is an avid tea drinker, who finds running, hiking, and dancing to be life-giving.