HELP Alumni Who Are Making a Difference

Gueilledana PAUL (medicine ‘10)

As the 2010-2011 school year draws to a close, all of us at HELP are very pleased to recognize 11 more graduates who have joined our growing community of alumni! And, in a country that has only three doctors per 10,000 Haitians, we are particularly delighted to highlight three female students who have earned their medical degree: Dr. Marie-Dieumane Chaperon, Dr. Ornella Sainterant, and Dr. Guielledana Paul (pictured above).

At Haitian universities, medical students spend the final year of their degree programs putting their skills to work in what is known as a social service year, under the supervision of a veteran physician. Marie-Dieumane, Ornella, and Guielledana fulfilled their social service in remote towns in Haiti’s rural Central Plateau, a region that has been significantly affected by the cholera outbreak in Haiti. This year of service was a meaningful one for all three students. Marie-Dieumane believes it gave her valuable experience performing under pressure, working with rural populations, and managing a team. Ornella learned to speak and understand the local dialect and live as part of a small rural community, where she put her knowledge into practice to directly benefit others. Gueilledana says she gained not only personal maturity and professional skills, but also a deeper understanding of the particular medical needs of Haiti’s rural population.

Today, all three women are still living and working in the Central Plateau and remain dedicated to the fight against cholera. Marie-Dieumane and Ornella work at a cholera clinic in Maissade run by Save the Children, and Guielledana at a treatment center run by Partners in Health in Cerca-La-Source.

Ornella’s and Guielledana’s final-year scholarships were funded by the Foundation to Promote Open Society and Marie-Dieumane’s by Cross International. HELP is grateful to these and all our donors who not only provide vital financial support but also share our belief in helping Haitians help themselves.

We look forward to following the promising careers of these outstanding women as they continue to put their knowledge and skills to work in service of their fellow Haitians.