Administrators of three Adventist hospitals in Peru paid a visit to Colorado’s Adventist hospitals and met their counterparts last May to jointly plan celebrations for 10 years of involvement through Centura’s Global Health Initiative. They also exchanged experiences and engaged in strategic planning.
Meeting at Avista Adventist Hospital, the Peruvian delegation included representatives of Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership in South Peru, including Pastor Enzo Chavez, president, and David Echevarria, treasurer. Representing Adventist hospitals in Colorado were CEOs of Avista, Castle Rock, Littleton, Parker and Porter.
The group committed themselves to strengthening ties, recognizing, in the words of Dr. Milika Brañez, CEO of Clinica Adventista Ana Stahl, that they “are each a part of one family, working as a team.”
Pastor Eric Nelson, vice president of the Rocky Mountain Conference, welcomed the opportunity for the church to exchange ideas and learn from each other’s experience in serving our communities through medical missions. Adventist medical and healthcare work etched itself into Colorado life and culture dating back 150 years.
Stephen King, vice president for mission integration for Centura Health South Denver, presented the visitors with developments that led to the creation of a well-recognized health system, Centura Health.
In his opening remarks, Dennis Barts, Avista Hospital’s CEO, recalled his direct encounter with the Peruvian hospital and its staff. “When our groups come, it’s a lot of work for you and your staff. But it’s a blessing for us to be involved with our Peruvian friends,” he said.
Regarding the GHI engagement with health and medical needs in Peru, Greg Hodgson, GHI director, stated that “after working together in Colorado for many years as a system of hospitals, Centura Health is honored to engage with the leaders of the three Adventist hospitals in Peru and the South Peruvian Union.”
