Even though I’m not in Haiti all the time, I’m there every day. My heart is always there.
Dr. Israelski
Our Founder
Dr. Israelski had long dedicated his time toward orthopaedic programmatic development for large hospitals and charitable work at clinics in NYC and the Hudson Valley. Haiti was in dire need of medical supplies and assistance. Dr. Israelski traveled to Haiti shortly after the earthquake and has since returned many times.
This desperate need for orthopedic support is what prompted ORSI’s founder Ron Israelski to launch his original crisis response mission in Haiti. As an accomplished orthopedic surgeon and prominent player in institutional surgical education, Ron quickly surmised that a superficial relief effort would be far from an adequate solution. Unless the underlying issues and systemic inadequacies could be rectified, Haiti would remain a vulnerable and dependent nation. This acknowledgment of deep-rooted dysfunction in our global health system has served as the direct inspiration for ORSI’s primary objective which is to provide the clinical, infrastructural, and educational support necessary to build sustainable surgical programs in the most underprovided areas of the globe.
The Organization
At this time, the bulk of our resources are focused on our partnership with the largest state hospital in Haiti Hopital de l’Universite d’Etat d’Haiti (HUEH) as well as our efforts at Le Paix. We have chosen to focus specifically on the state hospital system because despite serving the largest most impoverished segment of the population, they are significantly underfunded with far less access to resources than any other medical institution in the country. Many private and charity based hospitals in the region already have access to modern essentials as they receive ample support from foreign NGOs and charitable organizations. Although well intended, these entities are highly reluctant to offer support state funded institutions which only serves to accentuate the accessibility gap so prevalent in world health services.
Over our eleven-year involvement, we have successfully leveraged our connections within the US surgical education system to support a collaborative training program between the residents at NYU and the state hospital system in Haiti. We have sent over 30 didactic clinical teams, donated millions of dollars in life and limb-saving medical equipment, and arranged access to pivotal educational materials for Haitian surgical residents. Through these efforts, we have made a notable impact on the Haitian orthopedic landscape. Additionally, have gained valuable first-hand insight on need through long and hard-earned relationships with local beneficiaries to further shape our mission.
HUEH – (Hopital Universite D’Etat d’Haiti) is the largest hospital in Haiti. It is also the only university hospital and home to every medical and surgical residency program in the entire country. Since the devastating earthquake, problems have been largely compounded. This is the largest public health facility in all of Haiti and desperately needs equipment, supplies, deployment of surgical teams and support. Our goal is to procure clinical, educational and infrastructural support for Haiti’s largest hospital (HUEH). Procuring the funding to accomplish this goal is the first priority of ORSI.
ORSI is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization whose goal is to provide orthopaedic clinical, educational, and infrastructural support to areas in great need. Our initial project focuses on rebuilding the orthopaedic surgical capabilities of the largest and only university hospital in Haiti, Hopital de l’Universite d’Etat d’Haiti (HUEH).
Orthopaedic surgical services were challenged before the earthquake of January 2010.
They were decimated afterward.