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Haiti has a tremendous burden of arthritis, lupus, and other rheumatic diseases. Yet, there are only two rheumatologists for a population of over 10 million.
In comparison, UCLA alone has over 25 rheumatologists. Without access to a well-trained specialist, many patients with these conditions are misdiagnosed or remain untreated.
To address this problem, the University of California Haiti Initiative (UCHI) is partnering with the State University of Haiti Medical School and physicians at UCLA to train Haiti's first professor of rheumatology.
This talented young physician, Dr. Wilciane-Claire Belliot, will care for patients at Haiti’s busiest public teaching hospital. In addition to establishing Haiti's first rheumatology clinic, Dr. Belliot will serve as a professor at the State University of Haiti's School of Medicine, helping to train Haiti’s next generation of physicians.
This summer, Dr. Belliot will work side-by-side with some of the world’s best rheumatologists at UCLA Medical Center. Upon returning to Haiti, she will receive continuous medical training from visiting rheumatologists from the University of California.
Throughout this time, she will engage in remote lectures and close mentorship from Dr. Rebecca Gordon, the project's faculty lead and a UCLA Rheumatologist.
With your help, we will raise $5,000 to bring Dr. Belliot to UCLA this summer.
Your support will pay for her flight, housing, food, transport, visa fee, and short-term health insurance. Money raised beyond our goal will go towards the establishment of Haiti's first rheumatology clinic.
Please share this opportunity with your friends and family via email and social media! Watch for updates on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.
On behalf of the project team and our colleagues at the State University of Haiti, thank you for your generous support!
We're eager to share with you regular updates throughout Dr. Belliot's summer training. We'll also share stories and updates from visiting rheumatologist that train Dr. Belliot in Haiti.
What is the UC Haiti Initiative? UCHI connects leaders from the University of California and the State University of Haiti to strengthen higher education and development in Haiti and California. UCHI hopes to build off of prior successes in pediatric, emergency medicine, and microbiology trainings. We have student chapters at each of the 10 UC campuses, including UCLA.
Our Haitian Country Director works coordinates with our colleagues at the State University of Haiti. We're very proud to be supported and administratively housed at the UCLA Center for World Health. We're also honored to receive broad support from the University of California system, recently recognized by the UC Office of the President with the Award for Excellence in Student Leadership (2012-2013).
What is rheumatology? Rheumatology is a specialty within the field of medicine that treats inflammatory conditions like arthritis, lupus, and gout. Without access to a well-trained specialist, many patients with these conditions are misdiagnosed or untreated.
Doesn't Haiti have other health problems? Yes, but almost no health resources are targeting rheumatic diseases. In fact, UCHI was specifically asked by the State University of Haiti to train a professor in rheumatology because the problem is so significant.
How will you start a rheumatology clinic? We're fortunate to have received a small grant from the International League of Associations for Rheumatology to establish the clinic. Building space and basic equipment is being provided by the hospital administration. Clinical mentors from UCLA are in place. What is still missing? The financial support to train Dr. Belliot.
We appreciate your help to make this last piece a reality!
Tell me more about Dr. Belliot!
Dr. Belliot is currently a practicing internist at the Hospital of the State University of Haiti (HUEH) and at the Ambulatory Care Center of Delmas (Port-au-Prince metropolitan area). She is coordinator of the outpatient medicine clinic at HUEH and has been selected by the school administration to be an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Rheumatology.
Early in residency, she developed superlative diagnostic skills and interest in treating rheumatic disease. From 2009-2010, Dr. Belliot served as Chief Resident, where she became adept at managing a broad set of responsibilities, which will suit her well for her multi-site clinical and teaching responsibilities.
Belliot looks forward to enhancing her skills to treat patients of all ages and impart those skills on future generation of Haitian physicians.
Thanks for the support! To show you our appreciation, we'll tweet a personal thank you!
Your gift is much appreciated! We'll post a personal shout-out on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages! (plus all of the above)
We're so grateful for your gift! We'd like to thank you with a picture from the training and a thank you letter from Dr. Belliot, Dr. Gordon, and the UCHI Executive Committee (plus all of the above)!
Wow! Thank you for the generosity! You will be highlighted as a project sponsor on our website and upcoming newsletter (plus all of the above)!
Your gift will go a long way! We'd like to thank you with a plaque to acknowledge your significant contribution (plus all of the above).
We are deeply grateful for your support! We'd be honored to provide the chance to to meet Drs Belliot and Gordon in LA (plus all of the above)! *Note: we can't guarantee associated costs of the meeting
Words cannot express how grateful we are! We'll show our appreciation by recognizing you as the training's primary sponsor and honoring you with a plaque at the new rheumatology clinic in Haiti (plus all of the above)!