Marc-Aurel Martial, PhD, MPH, RN
Board of Trustees Chair
Founder
Marc-Aurel Martial is a public/global health nurse scientist and educator, entrepreneur and philanthropist dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. His approach emphasizes addressing social determinants of health such as education, nutrition, and WaSH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) in sustainable and culturally appropriate ways. In 2010, he co-founded Haiti Health Initiative, a 501(c)3 non-profit charity. He was born and raised in Haiti. He and his wife reside in Utah and are the parents of three children. His love for homeland is profound, and his commitment to serving Haiti is one of the small ways he can give back. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, hiking and biking, and playing ping pong and racquetball.
Ghammald Francillon, Engineer
Vice President, Co-Founder
Ghammald Francillon is a civil engineer, general contractor, and owner of a construction firm. He and his wife are proud parents of two children. From a young age, he was passionate about construction, which led him to study engineering—not only to provide for his family but also to contribute significantly to the development of Haiti’s infrastructure. For him, serving others is not just a responsibility, but an honor and a family legacy that brings him deep fulfillment. Each act of service reminds him of the solidarity and compassion that unite humanity, reinforcing his belief that we are all part of something greater. In 2019, he started providing engineering services to Haiti Health Initiative but soon committed his time as a volunteer to build local capacity and strengthen the organization’s structure. In 2024, he accepted the invitation to become the co-founder and vice president of the Haitian Foundation of Haiti Health Initiative, taking a more active role in advancing the organization. Born in Petit-Goâve in southwestern Haiti, he later moved to Port-au-Prince, where he pursued his engineering studies. He has also attended professional seminars in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Constantly seeking to learn and grow, he enjoys exploring new advances in engineering, technology, and other fields. In his free time, he loves spending time with his family and working in the fields, driven by his passion for agriculture.
JoLynne Britsch, BSN, RN
Board of Trustees
Medical Services
School Construction
Outreach Program
JoLynne Schill Britsch is a registered nurse with a bachelors in nursing. She has been interested in global health and was grateful for the opportunity to be apart of the medical team that went to Haiti in 2018. She loved and was inspired by the people she met in the community of Timo, Haiti. She has a passion to help achieve the sustainable goals that HHI has set in place for this community regarding education and health. Erasmus said, “The main hope of a nation lies in the proper education of its youth.”JoLynne chaired the fundraising campaign to build the school in Timo and has been actively participating in overseeing the construction process. She also is manages the medical team in Timo. She has worked in Maternal/Child nursing and was a childbirth educator. She currently works as an inpatient wound/ostomy specialist. She and her husband are the parents of four children and eight grandchildren. They have lived in numerous parts of the US as well as England. They love to travel as a family, meet new people, mountain bike, hike and snow ski. She is enjoying having Oregon be home and loves the Northwest.
Paulinaire Saint Surin
Paulinaire Saint-Surin is an electromechanical technician, entrepreneur and President of the Administrative Council of the Georgette Beauvais Community School in Bas Coq Chante. Born in Jacmel in southeastern Haiti, he now lives in Carrefour, in the western part of the country, with his wife and their three children—two boys and a girl. From 2012 to 2016, he worked as a clinic registrar and recorder for Haiti Health Initiative. Since 2022, he has served as program director for the organization’s health and cultural activities and in 2023 he officially became a founding member of the Haitian Foundation of Haiti Health Initiative. His deep love for his family and his country is matched by his strong commitment to serving Haiti and the Timo community where he has worked for years. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, studying together, playing with his children, and watching cartoons with them.
Belose Auguste
Nurse
Belose Auguste studied nursing in Port-au-Prince and sewing in Léogâne. She chose nursing as her vocation because of her deep passion for helping those in need of healthcare, which she recognized early in her youth. Since 2019, she has worked every Thursday as a nurse at the Timo Multi-Purpose Community Center, while also practicing sewing at home. She is committed to providing equitable care to all patients, ensuring her service is free from discrimination. She follows professional ethics in her nursing practice, valuing principles such as sympathy, self-control, and respect for individuals and institutions. She began working as a nurse alongside Haiti Health Initiative visiting medical professionals in 2016 and became a member of the Haitian Foundation of Haiti Health Initiative in 2023. Born in Léogâne, she now lives in Jacmel with her husband and their child, and they are expecting a second. In her free time, she enjoys reading religious literature, singing gospel songs, spending time with family, nurturing her toddler, and making her husband laugh with jokes.
Hervé Marcelin
Accountant
Hervé Marcelin is an experienced public accountant for the municipality of Petit-Goâve, Haiti, playing a crucial role in managing the city’s finances. His passion for financial analysis, management and optimization led him to study accounting, driven by a desire to contribute to the economic development of his country. In addition to his municipal role, he serves as the treasurer for the Haitian Foundation of the Haiti Health Initiative, ensuring rigorous financial management to support the organization’s growth and stability. Born in Petit-Goâve, he is a proud father of five children. In his free time, he enjoys relaxing by reading, listening to music, and spending quality time with his family, which helps him regain energy and maintain a healthy work-life balance. For him, serving means going beyond oneself, being available with compassion and kindness, and ensuring that every action contributes to the meaningful improvement of others' situations. He practices active listening and strives to understand the needs, challenges, and expectations of individuals to offer them appropriate and respectful support.
Watch How Our Partnership Programs Lifts Timo
Haiti Health Initiative Projects
Making a difference, one project at a time
Revitalizing Haitian farmland to nourish communities, combat food insecurity
[More]
+1 (801) 830-3043
mail@haitihealthinitiative.org
Haiti Health Initiative aims to improve the overall health and well being of rural Haitians, one community at a time. We seek to accomplish this through providing education and services in primary health care, dental care, public health, and nutrition within each community at risk.
If you have questions about Haiti Health Initiative, contact
Marc-Aurel Martial at
mmartial@haitihealthinitiative.org
or at 801-830-3043.
© All Copyrights 2024 by Haiti Health Initiative