Dean Ford Inspires Haitian Medical Students
Reaching out to provide teaching and training support
Photographs by Travis Horn
Dean Ford and Haitian surgeons operate on a child with a rectovaginal fistula.
W hile most of South Florida was glued to the television over Super Bowl weekend, Dean Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., traveled to Haiti, where he spent three days treating patients, and teaching and training medical students and faculty at the Université de la Fondation Dr. Aristide (UNIFA) in Port-au-Prince.
“Since the devastating earthquake of 2010, I have been traveling to Haiti on a regular basis to teach medical students and train local physicians to handle pediatric surgical emergencies,” Dr. Ford said. “Many times I take students and residents along, but on this trip in early February it was just me and a photographer.”
Donating Stethoscopes
Along with supervising clinical cases, Dr. Ford spoke with UNIFA medical and nursing students about his own rise from humble beginnings in Haiti, and presented them with 550 free stethoscopes — a gift from MDF Instruments.
“These students are very grateful for our support, as their education is hampered by the nation’s political instability and a lack of resources,” he said. “We are committed to helping Haiti’s medical community in the face of these daunting challenges.”
Dr. Ford examines the lower ribcage of Michelle, nearly five years after he performed the first separation of conjoined twins in Haiti, freeing her and her sister Marian.
Medical students take selfies with Dr. Ford after his teaching session.
