Wendy is a pediatrician who until recently was in private practice in Mount Kisco, New York. She graduated from Cornell University in 1987 and received her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College (now known as Weill Cornell Medical College) in 1991. She did her pediatric training at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she also served as a Clinical Instructor before moving to Katonah, New York. After almost 20 years in private practice, Wendy decided to pursue more personally fulfilling interests, which led her to her first medical mission with Hands Up for Haiti in January 2014. She then “moved up through the ranks”, becoming a trip leader, Medical Committee member, Events Chair, Secretary, and most recently, Vice President. Having held many different roles in HUFH has afforded Wendy a broad understanding of its needs and goals. An immediate past President, she looks forward to continuing the critically important work of the organization.

Bobby is a public health professional with more than ten years of experience in dynamic, multi-disciplinary environments. After graduating from Fordham University, Bobby earned both a Master of Arts in Public Health and a Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from Arcadia University. Bobby is the Executive Director of the Masters in Public Administration program at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at City College of New York. He has more than eight years of executive experience in a Queens-based home health care provider that is committed to humanistic health care for vulnerable populations. Bobby has also worked as a Project Officer examining the links between housing, architecture and health. Bobby has a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing complex projects, and adapting goals/objectives to meet emergent opportunities. A first generation Haitian-American who served as HUFH’s Vice-President for several years, he brings to the HUFH Board a unique understanding of the culture and challenges of the people of Northern Haiti.

Hope is a registered nurse from Ontario, Canada. She provides care to a wide variety of patients and has worked throughout the west coast of Canada in rural areas. Her passions are education of nursing students and emergency nursing. Hope took her first trip to Haiti in 2010 after the earthquake inspired her to want to help, and has returned many times since with a variety of organizations. She started volunteering with Hands up for Haiti in 2012 and has been actively involved ever since, focusing on expanding HUFH’s global health program for nurses and specifically partnering with Lambton College’s BScN program.

Stephanie is a Registered Nurse. After graduating from Barnard College in 1998 and while attending Bank Street College of Education (2000), she taught at The Brearley School for five years. After ten years at home raising her children, Stephanie decided to become a nurse, and graduated from Pace University with a Bachelors of Nursing in 2014. She became interested in Global Health through Hands Up For Haiti in 2012 and has been on multiple pediatric missions. Stephanie is now working on the Hypertension Program, hoping to provide long-term care for adult Haitian patients. She feels passionately about her work in Haiti and is committed to helping the Northern Haitian community.

Alice is a Senior Director, Financial Operations, for Northwell Health at the Northern Westchester and Phelps Hospitals. She has extensive experience spanning from Compliance and Internal Audit to Financial Management and Operations. She is highly skilled at directing corporate business systems implementation, and support activities, as well as effectively bridging technical and non-technical stakeholders. In addition to her business skills, Alice brings to HUFH her exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style, all of which enable her to establish trust and execute clear priorities, both here and in Haiti. Alice began her career in the nonprofit world, and, returning to that world as a volunteer, she is passionate about offering her talents to help HUFH fulfill its mission and is currently serving as our CFO.

Allison is a pediatrician in full-time practice for more than ten years in Mount Kisco, New York. After graduating from Barnard College in 1998, she received her Medical Degree from New York University School of Medicine in 2002 and completed her training at New York University Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital Center. She has been on faculty at New York Medical College since 2006, a clinical preceptor to first-year medical students. Allison became interested in Global Health through Hands Up for Haiti. Since October 2011, she has been a trip leader and served as HUFH’s Board President. Allison remains committed to improving the lives of the Haitian people and active in providing medical care at Haitian clinics, implementing the malnutrition program, improving access to clean water and educating Haitian doctors, nurses and healthcare workers. In 2019, Allison was a recipient of the Doctors of Distinction Awards in Westchester County. This annual award recognizes “Doctors who go beyond the diagnosis” for their outstanding dedication and commitment to medicine that impact our community each and every day: Allison was judged as the best in the “No land too far category.” She resides in Westchester, New York with her husband and their two young children.

Alexis, a pediatrician in private practice at Skylands Pediatrics in New Jersey, received her BA from American University in 2005, where she studied both biology and philosophy. After working for a year as a mental health worker at a psychiatric hospital, she earned her MD from St. Georges University in Grenada in 2010. As a resident in training at Morristown Medical Center, Alexis first joined Hands Up for Haiti in 2012 on one of our earliest global health trips, returning as a volunteer annually since and becoming a team leader in 2016. Away from her desk, Alexis focuses on family, friends and her puppy, who she named Shada after one of HUFH’s clinical sites, and is active in helping people register to vote. Passionate about caring for those in need, and with a lot of love to offer, Alexis has just been certified as a registered foster home for the New Jersey Division of Childhood Placement and Permanency (CPS).

Eric is a seasoned marketing communications executive with a diverse background in teaching, mentoring, medical journalism and volunteering. He has managed and owned several successful businesses specializing in the B2B, healthcare and non-profit sectors.Since 2006, Eric has volunteered and worked with several NGOs in Haiti including: Healing Hands for Haiti, Welcome Home Children’s Centre, Haiti Village Health and Hands Up for Haiti. He played a key role as executive director of a physical medicine and rehabilitation NGO in Haiti directing disaster management and redevelopment from 2009 – 2011. His introduction to HUFH was as a volunteer on the 2011 mission to Bod Me Limbe. Since then, he has consulted with HUFH on web development, rebranding and communications issues. Eric, born in Québec, now lives and works in Georgetown near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He received his BA from Bishop’s University and did a year of post graduate work in Montreal. He is a father of five, grandfather of three. While maintaining a business, CA14.biz, he is currently producing a film on blues music and working on a documentary on persons with disabilities in Haiti. His interests include creative writing, travel, cosmology, gardening and beekeeping.

Adam is a pediatrician in Parsippany, NJ. A graduate of New Jersey Medical School in 2011, Adam completed his pediatrics residency at Albert Einstein-Jacobi Medical Center in 2014 where he received the department’s award for Excellence in Medical Student Teaching in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Since entering private practice, Adam was named a “NJ Top Doctor” by Healthy Living magazine every year from 2015-2018, and he was also named “Favorite Kids Doc” by NJ Family Magazine every year from 2016-2019. Adam also serves as a preceptor for medical students at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. Adam joined his first global health trip in January 2016 on a team let by fellow Board Member Dr. Hemant Kairam, and returned in 2018, 2019 and 2020. He is committed to working hand in hand with our Haitian leadership and to training the next generation of health professionals, both in the US and Haiti. Adam has watched the evolution of Haitian Run – Haitian Led, believes in it, and has confidence that our team on the ground has a sustainable operation.

After graduating from Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Dan moved to the US and spent a decade in Non-Profit leadership roles. Over the past 7 years, Dan transitioned into tech sales and operations management roles, starting with special education tech and most recently at Payoneer, a public Fintech company based out of NYC. Dan came across HUFH in 2014 and after begging his way onto a trip, fell in love with the mission and the people and has been involved ever since. He lives in NJ with his wife Ariella & three children; outside of work, Dan spends as much time as possible outdoors & supporting charitable organizations.

Danielle is a consultant with more than 8 years experience in tax consulting, compliance, and financial statement auditing. After graduating from University of Michigan, Danielle earned a Masters in Accounting from Walsh College. Currently, she is a Manager in the National Tax Services practice at PwC, specializing in Partnership Mergers & Acquisition consulting projects. Born and raised in Detroit, Danielle now resides in Dallas, TX. Danielle’s passion for driving equity within communities of color guides her volunteer service. Her local volunteer work includes participating in voting access initiatives and providing support for her neighboring school system. Outside of work, Danielle enjoys gardening, fashion sewing, traveling with her husband and sampling local fare.

Wade is a pediatrician in Denville, NJ.  He received his BA and Masters of Science from The Johns Hopkins University and his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he was recognized as Student of the Year in 2013. He completed his training at Goryeb Children’s Hospital, and as a resident, joined his first global health trip in January 2016.  He has since traveled annually to Haiti, serving as a co-leader on his most recent missions.  Wade is particularly interested in using his efforts to make certain that HUFH’s Global Health Program strengthens, ensuring a next generation of healthcare providers who are familiar with the challenges of working in under-resourced countries such as Haiti.

Lynn is a dedicated, lifelong public health nutrition leader. A registered dietician, she received a B.S. in Community Nutrition from Penn State University, an M.A. in Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and completed a Dietetic Internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Now retired, Lynn has more than 30 years of progressive leadership experience. She served as the Director of Nutrition Pediatric Ambulatory Care, St. Luke’s / Roosevelt Hospital and spent 26 years as the Regional Program Director for the NYS Metropolitan Regional Office, responsible for numerous feeding programs. Lynn co-founded the vibrant New York City Nutrition Education Network. Passionate about helping those in need, she currently volunteers to help improve the literacy of young children, serves as a greeter for the Make A Wish Foundation, and works with Neighbors Link Immigrant Center. Lynn’s first trip to Haiti was in January 2014 and she continues to travel annually on pediatric trips. She focuses her efforts on providing support for HUFH’s nutrition programs and our “Travaye Sante Kominote” (TSK – Community Health Worker) Program.

Barney is a general pediatrician and a specialist in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes. In addition to his private practice in Manhattan, Barney is the Co-Director of the Pediatric Diabetes Team at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital.  A graduate of Amherst College, Barney received his medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics. Always passionate about Global Health, Barney has gone on medical missions to Africa, Asia and Central and South America over three decades.  He has been involved with HUFH since 2014, and has been on three missions to Cap Haitien, providing direct care and helping to educate local health professionals on issues related to endocrinology and diabetes.

Jill, a retired pediatrician, is HUFH’s co-founder and a key driving force. In 2010, Jill traveled to Haiti with a medical team in response to the devastating earthquake. She returned with a larger team in November of that year and soon after she co-founded Hands Up for Haiti. For over a decade, Jill has dedicated herself to the organization and its mission. Recently retired as an active HUFH board member, Jill remains in an advisory position to the board. Her contributions to the organization are immense. It was her original vision, a dream of helping to improve the health conditions facing the people of Haiti and especially the children, that has been the at the heart of all the work we have done over the past decade. She has used her talents, skills, and energy to create our programs and to help them evolve to serve ever changing needs. Many of our current programs were started by Jill, including our Malnutrition Program, Helping Babies Survive, Clean Water Wells, and TSK program (Community Health Workers), and she continues to advise the medical committees. She has led multiple teams of volunteers over the years, inspiring many to continue this work, and she has worked side by side with our Haitian medical team, offering support in education and clinical work.

Mary Ann is a pediatrician who after two decades in private practice became an author and specialist in newborn care and a leader in Global Health education.  A graduate of Barnard College and the University of Pennsylvania where she received her medical degree, she completed her training at Children’s Hospital of New York, then known as Babies Hospital of Columbia Presbyterian. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University. Mary Ann is one of HUFH’s co-founders. She created the Global Health Education Program for the organization and is dedicated to introducing medical students and residents to the challenges of working in Haiti. For over a decade she coordinated the Global Health programs for Atlantic Health System residents in Pediatrics, Family Medicine and OB-GYN. In 2019, she received the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for Public Service in the Ambassador category, a recognition that her volunteerism has made the world a better place.

Beth Bromberg, a founding member of HUFH, is a Board certified comprehensive ophthalmologist. Beth graduated summa cum laude from Wellesley College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received her medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago. After retiring from her private ophthalmology practice, Beth was an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Mount Sinai Hospital, working with residents on the Consult service. Beth serves on the Ethics Committee at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco. Beth first traveled to Haiti in 2010, soon after the earthquake, and has done so at least annually since then, leading volunteer missions and helping to train Haitian ophthalmologists-in-training as well as provide continuing education to practicing ophthalmologists. Her goal, as the US leader of HUFH’s Saving Vision Program, is to identify and obtain ongoing treatment for patients with preventable causes of blindness among the Haitian population, and help train and empower her Haitian colleagues to have the skills to do so.

Hands Up for Haiti remembers two beloved board members who left us too soon, both of whom helped countless people, both here and in Haiti:

Hemant Kairam, M.D.: a legacy of caring and compassion, an inspiring teacher and a true humanitarian. Read more about Dr. Kairam and his legacy here.

Judy McAvoy, R.N.: her memory and light will continue to shine through all of the nurses whose devotion she inspired.  Read about Judy and her legacy here.