Our Team
HHI Leadership
Dedicated to Haiti's Future
Our leadership teams in the United States and Haiti work hand in hand to advance HHI's mission of improving health and well-being in rural communities.
Our U.S.-based leadership team brings together healthcare professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, and advocates united by a shared passion for improving the health and well-being of communities in rural Haiti.
Dr. Gene Cole, PhD
Board of Directors
Gene Cole is a retired professor in the Department of Health Science at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He teaches and conducts research in environmental health, refugee and migrant health, and infectious disease prevention and control. His focus is on low-cost to no-cost solutions to important environmental problems that impact human health. He has worked with international organizations to address environmental health management issues in Central Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa. He holds both a Master of Science degree in public health and a Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Carrie Dunford, PharmD
Board of Directors
Carrie Dunford is a clinical pharmacist in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she works at a local hospital. She is a graduate of the University of Utah School of Pharmacy and recently received her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of Idaho. In March of 2011, she traveled to Haiti with Haiti Health Initiative and was impressed by the collaborative work between Haiti Health Initiative and locals to improve the quality of life for the people of Timo. She currently serves as the secretary for the Board of Directors.
JoLynne Britsch, BSN, RN
Board of Directors
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 part 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 chaired the fundraising campaign to build the school in Timo and has been actively participating in overseeing the construction process. She also 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.
Sara Ditto, BA
Board of Directors
For as long as Sara can remember she has always had a desire to go on a humanitarian trip. In April 2016, her husband and she had the privilege of joining HHI on a medical mission trip to Timo. She had the privilege of serving on the health education team and also had many opportunities to be involved in organizing the details of the trip. Since that trip, Sara has been involved in the fundraising efforts for the primary school in Timo and managing the social media outreach. Sara attended BYU-Hawaii and earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from Oregon State University. She is an active mom of six children, and recently became a grandma!
Carl Bechthold, MS, BS
Board of Directors
Carl Bechtold supports the HHI Outreach committee, primarily with production of the group’s direct mail newsletter. Bechtold worked for newspapers in Wyoming and Montana as a reporter, editor and publisher. He also founded Yellowstone Printing in Cody Wyoming before moving to Utah in 2002. Bechtold served as a User Experience (UX) engineer, clinical software interaction designer and usability analyst for Intermountain Healthcare. He also earned a master’s degree in psychology to support his post-newspaper work.
Glen Thomson, BCom Honors
Board of Directors
Glen has been leading corporate Internet Marketing teams since 1999. He has his own marketing agency, Fusion Results. He is experienced with web architecture, lead management, SEO, PPC and Social Media Management. He is delighted to use his skillset to forward the mission of Haiti Health Initiative.
Marc-Aurel Martial, PhD, MPH, RN
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.
Join Our Mission
Our leadership team is always looking for passionate individuals to contribute their skills and expertise.