 Many Haitian doctors had tried unsuccessfully to create an organization until a group of doctors, under the leadership of Lionel Lainé, decided to mark their presence as a growing ethnic entity, by creating the AMHE in August 1972. The founding members were: Boris Chandler, J.A. Clermont, Roger Déroséna, Roland Elie, Emmanuel S. François, Jean-Claude Germain, Jean Gilot, Marc A. Jérôme, Jacques L. Jean-François, Jean D, Joseph, Jean T. Labaze, Lionel Lainé, Edner Monsanto, Claude Neptune, Francéome Novembre, G. Phanor, Laurent Pierre-Philippe, Constant Pierre-Louis Jr., Jean Théodule et Emile Tibère.
The first general meeting was held at the Harlem Hospital, New York, on November 12, 1972. Sixty four physicians were present. The objectives were laid down as follow:
- To help the Haitian physician in the fulfillment of his/her professional and social life.
- To serve as advocate the Haitian immigrant community in health related matters.
- To cultivate professional ties with the alma mater
- To contribute to the advancement of medicine and the improvement of public health in Haiti
A meeting to set up the organization as an international entity took place in Chicago in 1973. The structure, the purpose, the agenda and the general program of the AMHE were presented. Five local chapters were formed.
The first convention of the AMHE was hosted by the Montreal Chapter at the hotel Bonaventure on August 30 to September 1st. One hundred thirteen physicians with their family attended the meeting. The first Executive Committee was elected.
The New Jersey physicians participated in the organization as members of the New York Chapter until the New Jersey Chapter was created on October 8, 1988. On January 22, 1989 an interim committee was formed by the following physicians: Jean Talleyrand, Yves Manigat, Gerard Breton, Serge Bontemps, Yolaine Sinady and Claude Macajoux.
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The first General Assembly of June 22, 1989 was held at Dr. Adisson’s residence. Several projects were launched which would serve as guidelines for future activities of the Chapter. The most important projects on the agenda were:
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Scholarship funds for high school graduates going onto college.
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Medical health fairs for different social and religious groups in the Haitian community.
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Fundraising dinner/dance every year around the anniversary date of the Chapter.
The first executive committee was elected on January 27, 1990 with the following physician members: Jean Talleyrand, president; André Pierre, first vice-president; Gérard Breton, second vice-president; Yolaine Sinady, secretary; Reynald Altéma, treasurer.
From 1994 to date, four executive committees were elected to implement the projects of the Chapter. The respective presidents were Jean-Marie Augustin, Claude Neptune, Reynald Altéma, Louis Sangosse, Yvan Ducheine and Margareth Olibrice Saint-Fleur (current president).
Let us mention a few of the accomplishments of theses committees:
- In 1990, active participation of the New Jersey Chapter with the Haitian community during the protest against the FDA decision related to AIDS and Haitians.
-The great medical health fair at Asbury Park on June 10, 1990 where 300 Haitians were examined and received advices.
- The donation of our first scholarship fund on June 23, 1991 to a graduate of Central High School in Newark.
-The organization of the eighteenth AMHE annual convention, one of the most successfull, at Absecon, New Jersey from July 30 to August 3.
-The formation of two scholarship programs: Dr. Lainé scholarship fund for students in Haiti and Dr. Rémy scholarship fund for students in the USA.
-The planning and organization of the extraordinary AMHE annual convention in Haiti jointly with (Association des Medicins Haitiens (in Haiti)) AMH, the first international one and the most attended one.
-The planning and execution of the AMHE annual convention on a cruise liner.
-The organization of multiple health fairs and public educational meetings with the Cercle de l’Amitié.
-The support of the school, Les MOISONNEURS de la Saline, in Haiti since 2003 by providing salary for the teachers and, and for the last 18 months (before the earthquake), a daily warm meal for the students on most days.
-For many years, a cultural fundraising event on the second Saturday of June; the last four were titled Night of Fire, Night of the Spider, Night of the Dreamer, Night of Optimism and Night of the Jam Jam; This is usually a glamorous affair, the next one will be Night of Solidarity on June 12, 2010.
The New Jersey Chapter will always strive to remain among the most active Chapters of the AMHE and very close to the Haitian community. Currently our focus is to continue the post-earthquake relief efforts by rebuilding the School Les Moissonneurs de La Saline. We are also providing Health care and medications to the victims. Members of the executive committee had been going to ground zero to help the victims within the first few days after the earthquake.
Written by Dr Serge Bontemps, March 19, 2010
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