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This Is Friends of the Children |
Since our inception in February, 1998 we have successfully completed 31 two-week medical missions to
LaMontagne, Haiti, which is located northwest of the small city of Jacmel.
The region consists of several small, underdeveloped rural villages, most of which are difficult or impossible to reach by vehicle. The estimated population of the area we serve is 30,000. The people have no other access to comprehensive healthcare. The nearest hospital is located in Jacmel. On foot or by donkey it takes three to four hours to reach the hospital - motorized vehicle travel is 90 minutes to two hours. If someone goes to the hospital they must provide cash prior to receiving treatment, service, or medication. This includes patients who present with life-threatening emergency conditions.
LaMontagne, Haiti, which is located northwest of the small city of Jacmel.
The region consists of several small, underdeveloped rural villages, most of which are difficult or impossible to reach by vehicle. The estimated population of the area we serve is 30,000. The people have no other access to comprehensive healthcare. The nearest hospital is located in Jacmel. On foot or by donkey it takes three to four hours to reach the hospital - motorized vehicle travel is 90 minutes to two hours. If someone goes to the hospital they must provide cash prior to receiving treatment, service, or medication. This includes patients who present with life-threatening emergency conditions.
A triage system founded in 1998, Friends of the Children focuses on:
Providing medical care and minor surgical care each clinic day. A triage system is utilized to prioritize care of the acutely ill and injured patients.
Providing evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, seizures, and psychosis. Emphasis is made on educating each patient on their life-long condition and providing enough medication for six months - the time between our missions. During each mission trip we reevaluate the patient and refill their prescriptions.
Our pregnancy clinic evaluates and educates all women in their second and third trimester of pregnancy. We discuss healthy pregnancy practices, birth plans, and dispense pre-natal vitamins. Each new mother is given a birth kit, which includes a receiving blanket and cloth diapers.
We collaborate with, educate and provide supplies to our midwives and Caritas healthcare workers
Each of the mission trips has included 7-12 volunteers including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and some without medical backgrounds. During the two-week visit there are typically eight clinic days and we generally see 2,000-2,500 medical patients.
Providing medical care and minor surgical care each clinic day. A triage system is utilized to prioritize care of the acutely ill and injured patients.
Providing evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, seizures, and psychosis. Emphasis is made on educating each patient on their life-long condition and providing enough medication for six months - the time between our missions. During each mission trip we reevaluate the patient and refill their prescriptions.
Our pregnancy clinic evaluates and educates all women in their second and third trimester of pregnancy. We discuss healthy pregnancy practices, birth plans, and dispense pre-natal vitamins. Each new mother is given a birth kit, which includes a receiving blanket and cloth diapers.
We collaborate with, educate and provide supplies to our midwives and Caritas healthcare workers
Each of the mission trips has included 7-12 volunteers including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and some without medical backgrounds. During the two-week visit there are typically eight clinic days and we generally see 2,000-2,500 medical patients.
Friends of the Children Medical Mission
September 2018
Meet Our Board of Directors
JOHN UNDERWOOD, DO
Dr. John has been involved in Emergency Medicine and EMS his entire career. Since his first mission trip to Haiti in 1999, he has been delivering care in the remote mountains of southern Haiti. He serves as Medical Director and Treasurer of Friends of the Children. John is responsible for providing education to the local healthcare workers (Caritas) in LaMontagne. Among other things, this includes training in advanced assessment and treatment skills and ensuring suturing proficiency of Caritas healthcare workers. 
RICK DEMING, MD
Dr. Rick is a retired family physician, having practiced for 38 years. He started coming to Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010. As a family physician, he enjoys the diversity of the medical issues that are encountered on the missions. Best thing he likes about Haiti – the smiles of the children. Things he does not like about Haiti – the noise of the dogs and roosters at night. 
KATHLEEN SPIEGELHOFF, LPN
Kathy’s first medical mission was in February,2007 and since then has traveled to Haiti once or twice a year. She loves working with the pregnant and breast feeding mothers and their infants. She serves as a clinical resource nurse in the treatment of under nourished and malnourished infants. Kathy developed an educational program for the expecting mothers, emphasizing healthy practices during their pregnancy and optimal care of their newborn babies. She loves the people of Haiti and the beauty of the country. |
LINDA UNDERWOOD, RN
Linda’s first trip to Haiti was in 1999 and since then she has participated in medical missions to Haiti twice per year. She fell love with the people of Haiti immediately, noting their strong sense of community, family and willingness to care for their neighbors. Linda is instrumental in Friends of the Children’s capacity to provide medical care and education to the people of LaMontagne. She developed a hypertension program and teaches hundreds of newly diagnosed patients methods to manage their disease each year. She serves as Secretary to Friends of the Children and is responsible for the coordination of personnel, medications and medical supplies for each mission. 
SUSAN SHERIDAN-STATZ, PhD
Dr. Sheridan-Statz is a university professor and school psychologist who has been involved with Friends of the Children since her fist mission trip in 2011. She established Elevating Haitian Education (EHE) as a part of Friends of the Children’s commitment to children. Working in close collaboration with local educators and parents, EHE is providing scholarships and material supports to 51 children to enable them to complete school. In the medical clinic, Sue works in the pharmacy and provides instructions to pregnant women about caring for their baby’s physical, cognitive and emotional health. 
DIANA LOVETT, RN
Diana is a retired Emergency/Trauma nurse. She made her first trip to Haiti in 1982 and promptly fell in love with the Haitian people and their culture. She has has made 37 medical missions to serve the Haitian people in the remote areas of Haiti. Diana and her husband Brian have been supporting Fonkoze for 25 years. Fonkoze is a not-for-profit organization that brings financial inclusion and development services to Haiti’s poor – providing them a viable way to lift themselves out of poverty. |
THOMAS J.REICHERT
Thomas’s first trip to Haiti was in 1998 with an organization called Friends of the Children of Haiti. Dick Hammond, founder of FOTCOH and the wonderful Haitian people made a profound impression on him. Thomas made it his passion to continue to travel to Haiti ever since. He is one of the original founding members of Friends of the Children, serving on its board of directors since inception. He serves as Board Chairman for Friends of the Children and oversees the logistics of each mission from clinic set up to tear down. He also hires and oversees support Haitian staff including interpreters and pharmacy aids. Thomas assists the medical team by arranging transportation for the critically ill and injured patients who require evaluation and hospitalization in Jacmel. Thomas retired from the city of Delavan Police Department in 2014 after 25 years of service. He also served with the Delavan rescue squad as an Emergency Medical Technician for more than 20 years. 
MEGAN FOELLER, MD
Megan is a maternal-fetal medicine physician (OB/GYN) who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. She has been traveling to Haiti with Friends of the Children since 2010. She developed and implemented the educational outreach program to traditional birthing attendants in LaMontagne, Haiti. Megan has a special interest in infectious disease in pregnancy. She has conducted research on Dengue virus, Chikungunya virus and Ebola virus in pregnancy. |
