Team
Norrisa Haynes, MD,MPH
This work is important to me because I am passionate about helping those in need not only locally but also around the world. If COVID-19 has taught us anything it is that we are deeply interconnected with many shared vulnerabilities. I became aware of this human connectedness as a child by watching my grandparents leave their home in the Caribbean to travel to the USA or Europe for healthcare. I knew from an early age that there were significant global disparities in healthcare access, quality and education that needed to be addressed. Living abroad and engaging in international work has solidified my desire to address these global disparities in healthcare delivery and education. In my opinion, education is one of the most powerful tools through which to effect change. As I was told growing up, it is the one thing that no one can take away from you. It is an empowering force that can create opportunities and equalize potential.
Veauthyelau Saint Joy, MD
I see this project as a solution to a logistical failure in education delivery using communication technology. I was born and raised in Haiti and I did my medical studies in Haiti. Therefore, I have witnessed the exodus of talented and valuable human resources due to a lack of opportunities, organization and commitment from those in leadership. Those who cannot leave and those who decide to stay or return to Haiti must organize themselves as best they can to make the healthcare system work. Building a medical community that is virtual and accessible at all times to strengthen curricula allows us to cope with disparities in education delivery. This medical community will involve more than the Haitian medical diaspora alone but will also include anyone who wants to contribute to achieving medical equity in the world. My commitment is based on the idea that routine, robust & scientifically driven medical discussions and standardization of knowledge will benefit the general public. I believe in teamwork and I deeply believe that many hands lighten the load: men anpil, chay pa lou.
Jabarais Swain, MD, MPH
It is critically important to recognize that we are all global citizens and that we exist in an era where our actions on one continent can influence the well-being of others miles away. This understanding is the essence of global health and why it is so critically important that collective efforts are focused on health promotion around the world, particularly in areas of resource constraints. This project presents a unique opportunity for me to leverage my clinical and public health expertise to generate solutions for real health issues that affect our global neighbors. I am thrilled to work in this space and am energized by the ability to support the longevity of my fellow man, both locally and abroad through such an innovative program.