At the 2025 ASNY Spring Banquet, GHF Founder Dan Wunderlich was honored for nearly two decades of delivering integrative healthcare to underserved communities. GHF has provided free, high-quality care to over 66,000 patients—always full of heart.
Dan was introduced by longtime GHF volunteer Peter Caron, with ASNY President Beth Nugent presenting the honor after a moving video tribute—and a well-earned standing ovation.
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Celebrating Service: Founder Dan Wunderlich Receives Humanitarian Award at ASNY Spring Banquet
At the 2025 Acupuncture Society of New York (ASNY) Spring Banquet, Global Healthworks Foundation Founder Dan Wunderlich was honored with the Humanitarian Award, recognizing nearly two decades of delivering integrative healthcare to underserved communities. To date, the foundation has delivered high-quality care—always free of charge and always full of heart—to more than 66,000 patients.
Dan was introduced by Peter Caron, a long-time GHF volunteer alumnus, who applauded his unwavering commitment to accessible, compassionate care. ASNY President Beth Nugent presented the award plaque following a screening of the short video 'Sustainable Healthcare in Action', which highlighted GHF’s medical outreach in rural Guatemala—and a well-earned standing ovation.
In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Dan spoke of deep gratitude for the team behind the work and the model that makes it possible.
“No matter how many times I watch our videos, it still hits me deeply,” he said. “The images of our volunteers and patients remind me what an incredible team I get to be part of—and how lucky I am to do this work.”
The GHF model blends team-based care with sustainable training for local health promoters and youth leaders. “Our team becomes a kind of walking hospital—much like the ancient Chinese medicine model,” he explained. “We train and mentor local health promoters… who then support our mobile clinics and also provide care for their families and neighbors independently.”
“'Be Well' means more than just feeling better—it’s about healing with dignity, with care, and with hope. And ‘Know More’ means our patients leave not only with relief from an ailment, but with understanding. They walk away empowered—with the skills and confidence to care for themselves, their families, their neighbors—even future generations.”
Dan also reminded the audience of the foundation’s golden rule for clinic days:
“What’s our Number One Rule?” he asked. GHF team members in the audience called back: “No dramas!”
“And Rule Number Two?” Again, they responded: “No dramas!”
He smiled and added, “Exactly. Because our patients are our number one focus—and we’re here to serve.”
The speech culminated in a story about Brian, who first came to a GHF medical clinic as an 8-year-old with severe mobility issues and difficulty in school. Eleven years later, after consistent care and family support, Brian is now in nursing school—and part of the GHF healthcare delivery team.
“The images of him now—confidently treating patients in our clinics—once a patient, now a provider—say everything about how far he’s come,” Dan reflected. “He’s a beautiful example of what it means to pay it forward.”
“Brian’s story is a beautiful example of what it means to pay it forward.”
Brian’s journey embodies the power of sustained, compassionate care—and the heart of GHF’s mission. Dan concluded simply, "This is why we do what we do."
Dan also expressed heartfelt thanks to four key members of the GHF team—each of whom was in the audience that night—whose long-term commitment helped shape the foundation’s sustained impact on the ground: program managers Peter Caron, Greg Radicone, and Claudine Rousseau, each of whom spent multiple years living in Guatemala to oversee the mobile clinics, and Luciano Laynez, GHF’s local Guatemalan Administrator who has been with the organization since its founding. All four later joined fellow GHF volunteers for the group photo featured in this story—a moment of joyful reunion and shared purpose.
He also reminded the audience that international outreach is only one path to service.
“There’s meaningful work to be done in our own backyards,” he said, citing examples like community-based programs and sliding-scale clinics. He gave recognition to others in the room who have dedicated years to such efforts, including student externships providing care in underserved neighborhoods and volunteers who run monthly clinics for individuals in recovery.
The night ended with cheers and a group photo featuring over twenty GHF volunteers in attendance, united by a mission and a memory.
“This recognition belongs to all of us,” Dan said in closing. “I share it with deep gratitude—for everything we’ve done together, and everything still to come.”
“This recognition belongs to all of us.
I share it with deep gratitude—for everything we’ve done together, and everything still to come.”