Meet CHI's new Medical Director, Dr. Aubree Ruzkowski!

​Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to expand my participation in CHI as the new Medical Director. While in my emergency medicine residency, Dr. Chris Buresh first introduced me to Haiti.  Since 2014, I have traveled several times a year to a small community, Les Anglais, about 8-9 hours southwest of Port au Prince.  My heart found its true home in that community and with the incredible friends and colleagues that worked alongside me.  I formed relationships that are some of the most important in my life and that continue to this day.

In early 2020, I then had the pleasure of joining CHI on a medical trip in Arcahaie.  I was lucky enough to find yet another community that touched my soul.  I have continued with CHI as a board member and am honored to call many of CHI’s members, both stateside and in Haiti, my friends.

I am extremely excited to continue Dr. Val Kestner’s incredible work and hope to focus on providing consistent care to our patients in Arcahaie and the surrounding communities, as well as solidify CHI’s ability to procure medications solely in country.  I am eager to support and empower our amazing Haitian team in any and all ways that I can.  Hopefully, as we continue, the roles of our Haitian colleagues will grow and evolve, while positions like mine will become smaller.  Mesi anpil!
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CHI would like to thank Dr. Val McDougall Kestner for her time serving as CHI's first-ever Medical Director! Dr. Val's contributes have helped implement new strategic strategies to our Haitian Led Clinic model. Dr. Val will continue to serve on the CHI Board as the Board Vice-Chair.