Bette Gebrian ’77, ’93

Public Health Director - Haitian Health Foundation

Over the past 20 years, Bette Gebrian used her experience as a nurse, public health practitioner and anthropologist to design and implement public health interventions and service programs worldwide. Dr. Gebrian received both a B.S. in Nursing and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut and is an Associate Clinical Professor for the School of Nursing, a Clinical Instructor at the Department of Community Medicine and Health Care in the UConn School of Medicine and nursing faculty at The Johns Hopkins School Of Nursing, while pursuing humanitarian objectives. Bette opened Madonna Place in 1981 to provide support for women and children in difficult circumstances in Norwich, Connecticut; it remains an important community resource. After moving to Haiti in 1987, Gebrian co-authored an initial Haitian Health Foundation public outreach proposal to the United States Agency for International Development for 28,000 people, which has since extended to 104 villages and 200,000 people. She has developed and computerized a comprehensive health information system still in use that has become vital in achieving high vaccine rates in children and women, sound improvements in maternity care and feedback of progress from village partners. Dr. Gebrian has been recognized by many organizations for significant contributions to maternal and child health and community based primary health care, and her humanitarian efforts were featured in a 2010 PBS special entitled Saving Haiti's Mothers.

View Saving Haiti's Mothers here

Click here to watch a video about Bette