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Rennie Gallo

Biography

Growing up in Honduras, Rennie Gallo felt frustrated with the prevalence of medical malpractice, the shortage of common prescribed drugs, and widespread disorder in public health facilities. She saw foreign health organizations' programs fail when they encountered cultural differences and an utter lack of governmental support. "I am very passionate about the health issues affecting the world today."

Rennie appreciated the opportunity to attend a private bilingual school in Honduras. Her family encouraged hard work, service, travel, and language education; her grandfather owned a travel agency and sparked Rennie's desire to see the world and explore different cultures. She eventually chose the difficult but rewarding course of leaving her financially strained family to attend college in the United States.

Beginning in high school and continuing in her undergraduate career, Rennie volunteered as an adult medicine clinical translator for two medical organizations working in Honduras. She participated in this work for more than six years. The Honors College of her university provided funding, logistics, and technical support for Rennie's documentary film on women's health, pregnancy, and childbirth experiences in her homeland. In 2005, Rennie co-founded an organization called Dreaming with Cameras, which teaches photography to children in a Honduran urban elementary school. Gallery shows in Arkansas and New York City will display the work of the children, and a website will sell the photos to support the continuation of each young artist's education and the program's future projects. Rennie intends to use her ability to communicate and engage with impoverished populations and health professionals in her international health career. Funding from this scholarship brings her goals within reach. She wishes to eventually work at a decision-making level at the World Health Organization.

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