Our Vision

All pregnant women should have access to life-saving ultrasound diagnostics.

Our Mission

NYAGI Project empowers local healthcare workers in resource-poor areas how to triage life-threatening health conditions through accelerated, low-cost ultrasound skills training.

Background

NYAGI (acronym for: Now You Are the Group’s Interest) represents that pregnant woman living in remote areas without access to prenatal ultrasound services. Every 2 minutes, a mother somewhere dies of pregnancy complications, the daily equivalent of 2 fully occupied 747 jumbo jets crashing with no survivors. Most of these deaths are avoidable and occur in isolated communities.

To help prevent these unnecessary deaths, in 2013, NYAGI Project was established as a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charitable organization focused on ultrasound education. Its founder, award-winning educator and physician Cliff Gronseth, M.D., recognized that the emerging medical technology portable ultrasound could have a profound global impact. He saw a need to create an efficient, scalable, empowering teaching system for basic ultrasound skills. Harnassing the power of technology has unprecedented potential for improving healthcare and saving lives in underserved areas of the world.

Dr. Gronseth developed NAV™ educational software to support an innovative teaching model based on two fundamental tenets: Collaboration and Empowerment.

Collaboration

NYAGI Project works with local partners to empower local medical providers. These on-site NGOs and government agencies enable the most fluid access to appropriate clinical delivery systems necessary to reach women in need.

The formation of strong partnerships translates into an efficient pooling of resources. Partnerships are fundamental to NYAGI Project’s philosophy and operations, reflected in its tagline, “Saving Lives with Ultrasound… Together.”

Empowerment

Instead of flying in for one-off expert assistance, NYAGI Project supports enduring and scalable solutions by combining its Train-the-Trainer program with remote back-up support.

Accelerated learning protocols focus on identifying select life-threatening complications. Successful completion of the training does not require advanced prior medical qualifications and is possible for midwives and birth attendants.

By enabling trainees to teach others, this approach multiplies the number of healthcare workers skilled in basic ultrasound diagnostics, increasing access for women in need. Other major advantages are that NYAGI Project’s skills development system is fast, effective and low-cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Team

NYAGI Project is a collective of dedicated volunteers, strategic and funding partners, and healthcare workers from around the world that together share the common goal of saving lives.

Cliff Gronseth, M.D. | Founder & Chair

Dr. Cliff Gronseth has been a passionate advocate for ultrasound for over 20 years and started NYAGI Project to share ultrasound’s live-saving power with the world.

Executive Team

  • Afandi Mulahi

    Afandi Mulahi

    Acting Executive Director

  • Catherine Schaefer

    Associate Director, Projects

Board of Directors

  • Alex Halpern, JD

    Lawyer and NYAGI Legal Advisor

  • Donna Sceusa, BA/RDMS/RVT

    Sonographer

  • Steve Rotholz, M.D.

    OB-Gyn, Professor, Univ. of Colorado Anschutz

  • David Vergoz, MBA

    CEO, Blackwood Finance & Accounting

  • Arlana Franklin

    Sonographer

  • Shannon Francis-Clegg RN, BSN, MBA, IBCLC

    Sonographer

Instructors

  • Lerby Exantus, MD

    Radiologist, Haiti Country Lead

  • Patty Kelly, RN, BS

    International Master Trainer, HBS/HMS Program

Advisory Board

  • Richard Green

    Past CEO, Cable Labs

  • Willem Van Vliet, PhD

    Professor Emeritus , University of Colorado

  • Karla Rikansrud

    Grant Writer/Fundraiser

  • Jim Grigsby, PhD

    Researcher, University of Colorado

  • Jason Houston

    Independant Photographer/Filmmaker

  • Walt Freese

    Past CEO, Ben & Jerry’s and Stonyfield Farm; Past President, Celestial Seasonings

  • Nico Toutenhoofd, BFA

    Founder, Insight Designs

  • Arlene Samen, APRN

    Founder, One Heart Worldwide

Interns