Against All Odds: The resilient journey of Zanmi Lasante's new family doctors.

Seven Began Their Journey in Family Medicine...

On September 26, 2021, 7 new family medicine residents arrived at Hôpital Saint Nicolas in Saint-Marc. At the time, Haiti was just beginning to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, and travel between the West, Central, and Artibonite departments was still relatively straightforward. Saint-Marc was about a two-hour drive from Mirebalais and even closer to Port-au-Prince. The PRMF welcomed these seven motivated young individuals, eager to be among the nation’s future family doctors.

However, this cohort faced one of the most challenging periods in the program’s history. While still in their first year, the country's situation deteriorated rapidly. Within a few months, they watched as key roads fell under the control of armed groups, making travel to the capital increasingly dangerous. Maintaining their initial motivation to keep learning under such harsh conditions became a daunting task. Some residents went over a year without seeing their families, while others took considerable risks to reach Port-au-Prince or other training sites, navigating areas controlled by armed groups or taking alternative routes that stretched up to eight hours. Unfortunately, a few were forced to leave the country and abandon their training.

...Only Four Remain for the Graduation Ceremony.

The graduation of this cohort represents an extraordinary achievement, a testament to perseverance of these young physicians through a tumultuous time. Their journeys have been filled with trials that might have ended the dreams of many. But with each challenge, they chose to stay, to push forward, and to shape a future where family medicine brings new hope to Haiti. Their resilience and dedication remind us all of what is possible when commitment meets purpose. Zanmi Lasante couldn’t be prouder to have these remarkable individuals represent the future of family medicine in our country.