Dr. Fiquita Memorial Fund

honor Dr. Fiquita St. Paul’s legacy of providing accessible primary care services in underserved communities in Haiti.

Dr. Fiquita was the heart and soul of Community Empowerment’s transformative work in Haiti for the past decade. Beginning as a medical student and interpreter assisting our volunteer teams, she quickly became our primary care physician after graduating, spearheading several programs aimed at addressing health disparities and expanding our relationships within the community of Jerusalem.

Dr. Fiquita chose to work in Jerusalem, one of the poorer communities outside of Port-au-Prince, instead of accepting job offers in a hospital or abroad. This choice was indicative of her spirit: a willingness to help the most marginalized rather than pursue a glossier career path. She worked tirelessly to install health initiatives aimed at addressing the specific needs of the community, and believed in the importance of educating patients beyond their visit. As a result, she gained a reputation for being knowledgeable and trustworthy, further ingratiating the clinic amongst the community. As violence worsened in Haiti, she regularly made the trek to the clinic against advisory warnings or conducted telemedicine appointments when transit was impossible. Her courage, compassion, and dedication to transforming health injustices is unparalleled and an inspiration to all who had the privilege of working with her.

In addition to the profound personal grief we feel in losing such a tremendous team member and friend, we also face a sobering reality: her passing has left an enormous void in the communities she served. The Dr. Fiquita St. Paul Memorial Fund will not only honor her legacy but fuel the change she envisioned for the people of Haiti. The fund will directly support the medical staff - including the new doctor, Dr. Christelle Mathurin, three community healthcare workers and a driver - continue the partnership with the PSN clinic, and ensure that the facilities where Dr. St. Paul worked remain well-stocked with medication and necessary equipment.

To continue to invest in the community is an act of hope and courage - one that defined Dr. Fiquita’s life and career. We hope to embody a fraction of her bravery and conviction.