Catleya Award Recipient
Dr. Diego Chaves-Gnecco (2006)
Diego Chaves-Gnecco MD, MPH graduated from Gimnasio Moderno in Bogotá, Colombia. He obtained his title as a Medical Doctor from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana where he held a position as Instructor of Physiology and Pharmacology at the School of Medicine. From 1995 to 1998 he completed his residency in Pediatrics at Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Clínicas Infantiles Cafan y Colsubsidio being Chief of Residents during his last year. In 1998, Dr. Diego came to Pittsburgh as a Visiting Instructor at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine where he worked until 2002. He obtained a Master degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH), in 2000. In 2002, he joined the Pediatrics Residency Program at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and its Community Oriented Residency Education program. It was this way that in the summer of 2002 Dr. Diego created the First Pediatric Bilingual Clinic in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Since its creation, this clinic has expanded to the program Salud Para Niños (Health for the Children). At Salud Para Niños, culturally and linguistically competent primary care for children and families is complemented with activities oriented toward prevention and empowering the community about its own health. Some of the activities of Salud Para Niños include: a weekly Tuesday clinic in Oakland at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, a monthly free clinic at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Care Mobile and at the Birmingham Clinic, participation in the organizations of the fairs "Al Servicio de la Comunidad", a literacy program where children are given at not cost free bilingual books to promote literacy and learning of English as a Second Language for both children and parents, translation of health prevention materials into Spanish, and four Hispanic/Latino Car Seat Checks in which emphasis is made in car safety issues. Since its creation Salud Para Niños has enrolled more than 300 children in their programs and has provided more than one thousand visits including well child check ups and sick visits. Currently, Dr. Diego combines his activities from his fellowship in Child Development and Behavioral Pediatrics at CHP, with his activities at Salud Para Niños.
Dr. Diego has been honored with several recognitions to his work and to his services to the community. These recognitions include the Ann E. Dyson Child Advocacy Award and a CATCH grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the "Margaret Gloninger" service award from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health. In 2004 Sr. Diego was choosen by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as one of the Dozen Making a Difference in our Region.
Colombia in Pittsburgh awarded Dr. Diego Chaves-Gnecco the Catleya Award that honors Colombians and friends of our country who their services to the community and to our country.
