Mission Statement: “To provide humanitarian, spiritual, and medical aid to our Haitian neighbors.”

      Introduction

• Haiti is located in the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 590 miles southeast of Florida. The eastern two-third of the island is the Dominican Republic.  In 1804, Haiti became the first black republic to declare its independence.  This year marks Haiti’s bicentennial celebration.  Unfortunately, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history.  It is the poorest country in the western hemisphere with a short life expectancy and a high infant mortality and death rates.

      Statistics

      According to the World Fact Book:

• Population: 7,656,166 (0-14 years: 42%; 15-64 years: 54%; > 65 years: 3.7%)Ethnicity: black 95%, mulatto and white 5%.  Birth rate: 33.76 births/1,000 population (Rank: 47/225 countries). Mortality rate: 13.21 deaths/1,000 population (Rank: 42/225 countries). Infant mortality rate:  74.38/1000 live birth (Rank: 35/225 countries).  Life expectancy: 51.78 years (Rank 191/225 countries), Literacy rate: total population: 52.9%

• 80% of the population lives in abject poverty. Haiti also suffers from rampant inflation (inflation rate: 37%; ranked 218/221 countries), a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. Extensive civil strife and political problems in early 2004, marked by the flight of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, further isolated and impoverished Haiti.

• It is estimated that NGO (non-governmental organizations) provide up to 70% of all medical care in Haiti.  However, due to the complexity of congenital and acquired heart diseases, most of these groups have not addressed the medical and surgical needs of these children.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Co-Founders and Board Members

Dr. Serge Geffrard is a Haitian immigrant to the United States, a board certified physician in Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine.  He is practicing Pediatric Cardiology in Atlanta, GA.  Dr. Geffrard organized his first medical mission trip to Haiti in 1996 when he was a sophomore medical student at the University of Florida.  Since then, He has participated or directly involved in many medical mission trips to his homeland.  In July of 2004, he participated in a medical relief mission trip to Jimani and Fonds Parisiens, towns which were affected by severe floodings.  Upon his return to the United States, he and Dr. Ming Young founded Project Haiti Heart, Inc. 

To reach Dr. Geffrard:

E-mail: sergegeffrard@yahoo.com  

Click here to read Dr. Serge Geffrard's CV

Dr. Ming Young is director of Pediatrics Cardiac Electrophysiology and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial hospital, has been a health care provider in South Florida for more than twenty years.  He has participated in multiple medical mission trips to Haiti.    He and Dr.  Geffrard founded Project Haiti Heart, Inc.

To reach Dr. Young:

E-mail: Myoung@med.miami.edu

Click here to read Dr. Ming Young's CV

Other Board members

Mr. Johnny Voltaire, a Haitian-American cardiovascular technician at Jackson Memorial Hospital, is director of fundraising for Project Haiti Heart.

To reach Mr. Johnny Voltaire:

E-mail: jobevol@yahoo.com  

Dr. Ken Poon is a Chinese-American ABIM board certified Internal Medicine physician who has completed training in a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatric training and is currently in Houston, TX completing a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the Baylor College of Medicine. 

To reach Dr. Poon:

E-mail KKPoon@bcm.edu

Dr. Wiener Leblanc is a retired Haitian-American Pediatrician,  and a community leader.  Dr. Leblanc practiced general pediatrics for many years in the US and has been very involved in healthcare issues affecting the Haitian community in the US and in Haiti.

To reach Dr. Leblanc: 

E-mail:  wienerleblanc@msn.com 

Rev. Etienne Prophete is a Haitian-American pastor and the founder of Haitian Christian Mission.  He has been involved in mission work in Hati for over 30 years.

To reach Pastor Prophete: 

E-mail:  projesus@bellsouth.net 

Dr. Maxene Cenatus is the hospital liason and medical director of the medical center in Fonds Parisiens.

To reach Dr. Cenatus: 

E-mail:  docmax2003@yahoo.fr

Project Haiti Heart

PO Box 43332

Atlanta, GA 30336

678-276-9758

E-mail: projecthaitiheart@yahoo.com