About Us

Global Health Connections (GHC) was founded in 2006 by Dr. Blair Gifford, Professor of Global Health Management and founder of the Center for Global Health (2003) at the University of Colorado Denver. From early programs like the Global Water Challenge for Colorado students and a maternity clinic in Haiti, GHC has been driven by a simple belief: communities are strongest when they are empowered to solve their own challenges.

In 2020, GHC turned its focus to Kenya, launching Community Health and Empowerment Clubs (CHECs) to improve health, build economic opportunity, and strengthen local leadership. Guided by our values of empowerment, sustainability, innovation, and compassion, CHECs put communities in the driver’s seat—teaching, equipping, and walking alongside villages as they create lasting change. Today, CHECs are helping families grow stronger incomes, access better health, and cultivate resilient leadership, creating a future where every village has the tools to thrive.