Jason came to Guatemala to serve — and found a way to keep serving. A Philly acupuncturist with a big frame and bigger heart, he fundraised for care in Quiché, showed up ready to treat, pitched in on every task, and even shared extra supplies so no one had to pause care.
On this jornada, he worked with local health promoters to treat Felipe — a 12-year-old with cerebral palsy — whose balance and gait improved with acupuncture, gentle electrostimulation, and moxibustion heat therapy, plus a simple at-home program to sustain gains between missions. His story reflects GHF’s model in motion — organized clinics, kindness and compassion, and community follow-through.
📸 Read the full story below—featuring a short video of Felipe and images throughout.
Bridging Healthcare Gaps in Guatemala: Jason Krantz and His Buddy Felipe
Meet Jason — Why He Serves
At 6-foot-6, Jason Krantz towers over his Guatemalan patients, yet his presence is warm and approachable. With a bright smile and friendly demeanor, he makes each person on his treatment table feel comfortable, respected, and safe at Global Healthworks Foundation (GHF) clinics.
“The people here are so grateful,” Jason says. “It’s really moving.”
Founder and Lead Acupuncturist of Summit Acupuncture in Philadelphia, Jason specializes in acute and chronic pain, sports injuries and performance, as well as stress, anxiety, and depression. Among his many skills are neurofunctional acupuncture, dry needling, and traditional acupuncture.
“When we look for volunteers, we look for people who are team players,” says Dan Wunderlich, GHF Founder and Executive Director. “That’s Jason. He’s committed to giving back to underserved communities — at home and internationally. On site, that looks like pitching in without being asked — hauling gear, setting up the clinic, mentoring first-timers, and staying late to help close. He even comes with extra supplies — bone-water liniments and spare e-stim units — to share across the team so no one has to pause care.”
“Healthcare equality is a big thing for me,” Jason says. “I’ve worked in community acupuncture clinics, and I provide free care in my own clinic to bridge that gap.”
Jason first learned about Global Healthworks Foundation during a neurofunctional acupuncture seminar led by Dan. “I always wanted to do acupuncture abroad, like Acupuncturists Without Borders,” Jason says. “But the process is daunting. Dan makes it easy to give back — you buy a plane ticket and show up ready to treat. All the logistics are handled so we can focus on care, and the clinic runs in a steady, organized flow.”
The October 2025 jornada is Jason’s second trip with GHF; he first came in March 2025. In addition to treating on this trip, Jason fundraised several thousand dollars to support ongoing outreach in Quiché. “I hear from a lot of would-be volunteers,” Dan says. “Jason wasn’t a would-be — he converted interest into action: persistent follow-up, real fundraising, and then he showed up — boots on the ground — asking, “How can I help?””
“He was persistent and engaging. He may be the only volunteer in twelve years who asked to join the very next jornada — our biannual medical mission. He’s clearly here for the right reasons — patients first, with kindness, compassion, and teamwork — and he brings real skills to the work.”
Felipe’s Story — Treatment and Progress
One of Jason’s patients this past trip was Felipe, a 12-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who has trouble speaking and walking. He’s been receiving treatment from GHF practitioners since March 2025 — Jason’s first GHF trip — and this jornada coincided with his 12th birthday, which we celebrated at the clinic.
“When Felipe first came to be seen,” Dan says, “he struggled to walk steadily and keep his balance. His gait was off, and he showed classic hand-grip challenges. Although he had difficulty pronouncing words, he was clearly thoughtful and extremely bright. From the first question, he spoke for himself — his mother supported that independence — and he was expressive, curious, and determined.”
As part of his treatment protocol, Jason selected acupuncture points on Felipe’s forearms and lower legs that would offer the most benefit. He also applied gentle electrostimulation to several of these points — Felipe was open to it and intrigued by the visible muscle-twitch response, a sign of a healthy signal being communicated to the nervous system. The comprehensive treatment also included moxibustion heat therapy applied to key scalp points to support cognitive clarity and calm the nervous system, as well as guided movement, stretches, and exercises to improve core strength and stability. “After treatment, his gait significantly improved,” Jason says.
“Because he was receptive to trying acupuncture, took ownership of his at-home exercises, and showed real commitment to practicing them, Jason and I knew we could make real progress,” Dan says.
Outside the biannual jornadas, GHF’s local health promoters continue Felipe’s care and track his progress. During this trip, Jason worked side by side with Oscar and Tomy to train them — along with Felipe’s mother — on a simple set of at-home stretches and exercises so the routine continues between missions. “That consistent at-home practice is what’s driving Felipe’s improvement,” Dan says.
Felipe practiced the routine with Jason, Dan, and the promoters during the October jornada. When asked how he felt afterward, he answered with a high-five, a 1000-watt smile, and a simple, “Muy bien [Very good].”
Why It Matters
Jason says patients like Felipe make it all worth it. “Coming to a place where people have very limited resources, it’s deeply fulfilling to give back.” From the smiles and responses of his patients, the feeling is clearly mutual.
