About

 

Index

All of the information is listed below, but can also be navigated with the index.

Story   •   Boards & Staff   •   Testimonials

 

 

What is the story of Global HELP?
After experiencing the tragedy of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Drs. Lynn & Lana Staheli came to the conclusion that the best way to deal with conflict in the world was to address the underlying causes. While recognizing that the causes of terrorism are complex and multiple, the Stahelis believed the fundamental causes included poverty, despair, and poor health-care. Improving health would lead to a more peaceful world, they concluded, and improving health requires access to health-care information.

 

Given their backgrounds in medicine, academia, and publishing, providing access to health-education resources seemed a logical and powerful way to give something back. This spawned the idea for Global HELP (Health Education using Low-cost Publications): the creation, distribution, and broad access to affordable health-education materials.

 

While teaching in numerous countries, the Stahelis witnessed first-hand the need for information sharing in the medical world. Traditional sources of health-care information in journals and medical books that are traditionally produced in the United States and Europe were unaffordable and sometimes unsuitable in other areas of the world. They saw whole hospitals whose entire medical libraries did not fill a single bookshelf.

 

How could this health-care information gap be closed in other countries at an affordable cost or for free? Based on the Stahelis' personal experience in creating computer-generated textbooks, digital publications looked like an excellent solution. Digital publications are generally created at low-cost and can be distributed without charge on the web or at a nominal cost in print or on compact discs.

 

In 2002, the Stahelis put the vision into action and created Global HELP, a not-for-profit organization.

 

Just six years later, Global HELP continues to expand its selection of free and low-cost publications -- focused primarily as web-site PDF downloads -- finding different ways to distribute medical information to new countries and new people every day.

 

How did HELP develop?
In 2002, HELP developed its basic philosophy and mission. The organization's infrastructure -- including its legal entity status, trademark, boards, and business plan -- was built in 2003.

 

During this time, the Founding Board was created. The members of the Board volunteered their service and provided the funds that covered the operating expenses of the organization. This meant that all contributions from non-Board members were used to create and distribute publications, a model that remains to this day.

 

The Founding Board included Lynn & Lana Staheli, Susan Elliott, Lars Jonsson, and Paul Merriman. Since the beginning, Lynn Staheli has served as the unpaid Executive Director of the organization.

 

What has HELP accomplished?
During the past 6 years, Global HELP has provided 60 free publications, some of which were translated into 15 languages, with new publications added all the time. Over 250,000 PDF publications have been downloaded from our web-site to individuals in over 150 countries. In addition, 20,000 printed publications have been distributed in over 60 countries.

 

How is HELP funded?
Again, overhead expenses are covered by contributions from Board members. Donations received from non-Board members are used entirely for developing publications and for free distribution of this material from our web-site. Printed material or CDs are available at the cost of production and shipping. HELP makes no profit from these materials.

 

Are HELP publications free?
Access and use of all PDF material on the web-site is free. Physical material such as books, posters, and CDs are available for free for use in developing countries for only the cost of mailing. Printed publications are available through the Global-HELP Bookstore for use in developed countries at the cost of production and mailing. A donation to HELP is requested.

 

Is my donation tax-deductible?
All donations are tax-deductible. HELP is officially registered as a not-for-profit entity with 501(c)3 status within the United States.

 

May HELP material be copied?
Yes. Unless otherwise stated, our objective is the widespread distribution of health-care material. Copying the material is authorized for non-profit purposes only. Any "for profit" purpose is strictly forbidden and considered illegal.

 

Where is HELP going?
CD Libraries effectively supplement the web-site as a means of making large-sized publications available world-wide as web-based information is not available in some developing countries where internet access is slow or unavailable. These large PDF files can be difficult to download on some connections, which makes CD libraries a convenient, inexpensive, and hassle-free way to use and distribute health-care information.

 

We currently offer two new CD Libraries.

"Global HELP CD Library"
Includes all 40, world-wide PDF publications from our web-site to date and is available for unrestricted use.
"Pediatric Orthopaedic CD Library"
Includes five Lippincott Williams & Wilkins textbooks as well as twenty-one additional PDF publications from the web-site. For legal reasons, distribution is limited for use only in developing countries.

 

 

Boards & Staff

 

HELP thanks all those who have worked with them before, as well as its current staff, which continues to grow.

 

Boards

Our board members provide leadership and by giving direction & support. For more information about each member, please click on their name.

 

HELP Board
Lars Jonsson
Paul Merriman
Sam Pederson
Lynn Staheli

 

International Board
Charlene Butler
Linda Staheli
Selim Yalçin

 

Orthopaedic Board
David Spiegel
Hugh Watts

 

Turkish Board
Nadire Berker
Selim Yalçin
Muharrem Yazici

 

Staff

Design & Publishing
Deborah Cughan

deborah@global-help.org

 

Office & Web-Site
Dean Carlson

deancarlson@global-help.org

 

 

Testimonials

 

We thank everyone for their positive feedback. To contribute your own testimonial, please feel free to contact us at questions@global-help.org

 

Surgical Oncologist & Research Professor, Mexico
"Global HELP is a paradigm that we should all emulate nowadays. Please extend my thanks and recognition to the other collaborators for such distinguished work, so humanitarian, and so relevant, and by offering to help increase awareness of how to move from illness to health."

 

Medical Resident, Afghanistan
"It is a pleasure to know that such organizations exist. It's really helpful and scientific material, up-to-date and simple to understand. Thank you very much!"

 

Ignacio Ponseti, Pediatric Orthopaedist, U.S.
"We are very pleased and impressed to see the enormous amount of exposure the Global HELP web-site has provided throughout the world on our clubfoot treatment. The large number of hits in all languages shows the far-reaching effects of this web-site."

 

Orthopaedic Surgeon, India
"I have been regularly accessing the Global HELP web-site and recommended it to many of my orthopaedic colleagues for the wealth of information it contains, which is of tremendous help to practicing orthopaedic surgeons like me from developing countries. I found the 'Clubfoot: Ponseti Management' publication the most useful and I have started following the Ponseti technique. I have also taught this method to some of my junior trainees. I deeply congratulate and laud the efforts of the team of Global HELP for putting up such wonderful publications and admire the noble work being done. Keep it up."

 

Director Of Orthopaedic Surgery, Iraq
"I'm an orthopaedic surgeon and I face many cases of trauma, especially these days in Iraq. I need good information regarding flaps and soft tissue reconstructions so 'McCraw & Arnold's Atlas Of Muscle And Musculocutaneous Flaps' was very beneficial to me."

 

Pediatrician, Panama
"'The HELP Guide To Cerebral Palsy' is good reading and an awesome book."

 

Children's Orthopaedist, Vietnam
"I appreciate Global HELP very much and have used the web-site for many years. I have used the book on Cerebral Palsy and the materials on Clubfoot based on the Ponseti Technique. They are great!"

 

Pediatric Orthopaedist, Cuba
"I was already familiar with the Ponseti method because it is what I use in my practice, but I was able to download several other guides that I found very interesting and very useful, especially in developing countries with very few limitations. I wish you success with your web-site and hope that you continue publishing on such interesting topics."

 

Doctor, Nigeria
"'McCraw & Arnold's Atlas Of Muscle And Musculocutaneous Flaps' has been useful to our Residents."

 

Pediatrician, Chile
"Thank you for your excellent publications!"

 

Physiotherapist, Australia
"I work for an Aboriginal NGO. I'm often looking for clinical resources for our staff, materials particularly useful for practitioners in the field, in remote communities and with minimal resources."

 

Student, Thaliand
"Thank you for the information."

 

Clinical Bioengineer, U.K.
"I've seen 'Cerebral Palsy: Treatment & Rehabilitation' before and it gives a great overview to Cerebral Palsy, has good presentation, and is well illustrated with photos."

 

M.D., Mexico
"I read 'Clubfoot: Ponseti Management' and it is easy to undestand and apply, thanks."

 

Orthopaedic Surgeon, Canada
"I work with the Karen people, the internally displaced people of Burma, and it's great to have a resource such as this."

 

Disability Advisor, Italy
"Thank you for sharing your publications!"

 

Paediatric Physiotherapist, U.K.
"I visit Afghanistan twice a year and we have introduced the Ponseti treatment for clubfoot with great success and value 'Clubfoot: Ponseti Management'."

 

Professor, Mexico
"'McCraw & Arnold's Atlas Of Muscle And Musculocutaneous Flaps' is a very good book."

 

Commercial Loan Assistant, U.S.A.
"I just wanted to say thanks for publishing 'Clubfoot: Ponseti Management'.

When I found out at 30 weeks gestation that my twins (age 3 now) were to be born with bi-lateral clubfoot, I was in tears. I knew very little to nothing about the birth defect. We searched and found this manual and read the complete thing, front-to-back, three or four times prior to our consultation with Dr. Ponseti's colleague, Jose Morcuende. We only live two hours from Iowa City, IA, U.S.A. where Ponseti and Morcuende practice. When Morcuende asked what I knew about the condition, I pulled the manual out from my bag and told him all my information came from it. Needless to say, my appointment lasted about 15 minutes. He couldn't really tell me anything more than I already knew and said that the outcome of the girls' treatment would probably be very good since I was so well informed. He said the more informed parents are, the more they understand the condition/treatment and are more likely to rigidly adhere to the program.

The girls are doing well. In fact, after four castings, they did not even need the tenotomy. The fifth cast stayed on for two weeks and now we are in our Ponseti AFO Brace.

Thanks again for publishing this information and offering it free on your web-site. I believe I would have had a much more difficult time dealing with the clubfoot if I had not had this manual. I hope you are able to continue and broaden the scope of material offered."