I met Claudel Gedeon in 2010 following the devastating Haitian Earthquake. I was on a medical response team who had established an outdoor field hospital in Port Au Prince. Claudel, a young man just finishing High School presented himself with a desire to put his English-speaking skills to good use, translating for American medical volunteers who were in Haiti to treat his French-Creole speaking countrymen. Claudel worked with our medical mission team for over a year. As our Haitian medical mission came to an end, Claudel and other translators approached us and asked to teach them emergency medical skills. As a group, we all committed to put on an emergency medical technician course and graduated our first, then second class of students to American DOT and National Registry standards. Claudel then became an EMT for Bernard Mev’s Hospital Emergency Department. Soon after, the nonprofit air ambulance organization Haiti Air Ambulance (HAA) hired Claudel as a medical crewmember of the only available rotor wing ambulance in the entire nation. Claudel then took on the responsibility of training community first responders on a continuous basis. Since 2012, Claudel has committed to organizing and teaching courses voluntarily and established the organization “EMPACT Haiti.” Claudel is very advanced in his clinical ability and can perform skills such as suturing of wounds, airway intubation, IV administration of medications and cardiology rhythm recognition. He has made high acuity contacts for his entire pre-hospital medical career now spanning twelve years and serves as the clinical services manager for HAA. He has been a leader in his community and country as one of the first EMT’s in his nation. Mr. Gedeon wishes to become a certified paramedic so that he may further grow in his skills but more importantly, Claudel is committed to improving his severely underserved community. His goals of growing and improving Haitian First Responder capacity is undeniable and quantifiable by his ongoing success. Claudel has demonstrated the traits of selflessness, commitment to his profession and humanity and asked for nothing in return. His success is so critical to me personally, we have initiated a path for his paramedic education at Dixie State University in Southern Utah. To date, I have reached out to the Dixie State University President Mr. Richard Williams who kindly connected me with the VP of Student Affairs Mr. Del Beatty and Mr. Shadman Bashier, Director of International Student Services who have been working with Claudel to make this dream a reality. The support from the University has been incredible. My family will sponsor and support Claudel while he attends the perquisite education and eventually, the paramedic program. We are hoping for scholarships to cover some costs, however tuition and expenses is about $10,000 USD per semester. All funds raised will cover tuition, travel while he will work part time to cover living expenses.  Donations of any size are welcome and appreciated. Furthermore, those who can give a little time to help share and expand the reach of this campaign is critical to Claudel's success. Please help Claudel make history as Haiti's first certified paramedic working in-country. Please help Claudel actualize his dream of improving prehospital healthcare the most underserved nation in the western hemisphere. Together, we are making history and many lives will benefit for years to come.  <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/55837456_1617691180501064_r.jpeg" alt="55837456_1617691180501064_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />Claudel and Haiti Air Ambulance team loading a patient onto the medical helicopter. (photo credit HAA) <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/55837456_1617691238781206_r.jpeg" alt="55837456_1617691238781206_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />Claudel is the leader and organizer for EMPACT Haiti, a grass roots volunteer first responder education organization in Haiti. (photo credit EMPACT Haiti)

Duckens Pierre

marybeth ruscica

Curtis St John

Anonymous

Armadeus Davidson

Lou Melendez

Kenneth C L King

Marium Husain

Donna VanStralen

Air Chaperone

Camille Pane

Ken King

mary dowling

Thomas Hudson

Help Claudel Become Haiti's First Paramedic!

Help Claudel Become Haiti's First Paramedic!

Still $1,742 to go. Help us build momentum.