Page 12 - RossYou Day CHS March 2025 Program

Center for Haitian Studies, Health, and Human

Services – Social Justice and Mentorship

Funding the Future
Few understand the imminent shortage of physicians in South Florida, and how that shortage is
affecting the disenfranchised populations of Miami-Dade County, as well as Larry Pierre, MD, MPH.
During his fellowship in HIV/AIDS at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Dr. Pierre saw
the need firsthand. “There was a stereotyping of Haitians with HIV,” he said. “It was a social stigma that
pushed Haitians away and it made them shy away from seeking care.”
In 1988, in partnership with the University of Miami, Dr. Pierre founded the Center for Haitian Studies,
Health and Human Services to serve the populations of Miami’s Little Haiti/Little River neighborhoods.

“I also realized there was a significant need to train future health care providers,” said Dr. Pierre, who is
still director of the center. “As large numbers of immigrants arrive here, there’s an even greater need
for culturally competent physicians to deliver the services they need”.
The Future of Health Care
Medical residents are the future of our health care system,” he said. “I want to improve access to
health care in immigrant communities and to encourage more minority students to pursue careers in

“I want to improve access to health medicine.” Toward that end, Dr. Pierre is a strong -supporter of the University of Miami’s Pediatric

care in immigrant communities and to Mobile Clinic, which provides medical care to uninsured children, regardless of their ability to pay or
immigration status. He also has supported the Miller School Office of Diversity, Inclusion and
encourage more minority students to Community Engagement’s Future Medical Scholars Fellowship Program, summer program for high

pursue careers in medicine.” school students with an interest in pursuing careers in medicine.

— Larry Pierre, MD

Alton C. Funding the future. University of Miami Medicine Magazine.
Published 2024. Accessed November 4, 2024.
https://magazine.med.miami.edu/funding-the-future/

A Passion for Social Justice, Caregiving, and Mentorship

Nominated for the 2021-22 James W. McLamore Outstanding Service Award by a group of peers at the

University of Miami School of Law, Stephen N. Symes, MD, is an associate professor of clinical medicine in the
Division of Infectious Diseases at the Miller School of Medicine, and internist at the University of Miami -

Jackson Memorial Medical Center. When not caring for adult patients or training medical students and

residents, he spends his time working with immigrants and underserved communities.

Among his accomplishments during the past 16 years, Dr. Symes founded and serves as the medical director

of the Human Rights Clinic of Miami, an independent collection of medical students, residents, and
attending physicians who commit their time and ability to provide free, impartial physical and psychiatric

evaluations for asylum seekers and refugees in the United States. Participants volunteer their clinical services

to provide objective evidence for the court while connecting patients to specialized care and learning how to

best help marginalized patient populations.

Two years into medical school at Howard University College of Medicine, Dr. Symes realized that his role,
which involved seeing patients at their bedside, talking through symptoms with them, and overall problem-

solving, was the perfect fit. “When you are in front of that person - struggling to breathe, crying in pain, or

desperate for help - you learn fast about making a meaningful difference,” he explained.

As associate dean for diversity and inclusion with the Miller School Office of Diversity and Inclusion, he

develops programs to recruit, enhance, and retain a diverse and culturally competent health care workforce Bomnin B. Faculty award recipients shape their fields, share
their passions. InventUM, University of Miami News.
at the student-resident and faculty level at the University of Miami. Growing up in Jamaica, Dr. Symes describes Published February 25, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2024.

the “gentle drift” that led him to pursue medicine as the combination of a mother who was a “wonderful https://news.med.miami.edu/faculty-award-recipients-

shape-their-fields-share-their-passions/
teacher,” a primary doctor who was a “great role model,” and a quality education that gave him the
confidence to move forward.

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