Vodou Saints: Lessons on Life, Death and Resurrection from Haiti

Arthur Fournier

Jan 2011 · Diversion Books

About this ebook

VODOU SAINTS is an account of Dr. Arthur Fournier's travels through the earthquake-ravaged nation of Haiti. He shares lessons of life and death, courage and resilience as he joins with Haitians dealing with the aftermath of the world's largest natural disaster. The author recounts stories of the special care needed for patients with AIDS, and reveals a personal family tragedy that brings the story full circle. The work is arguably the most compelling series of insights on the human condition since Albert Camus' THE PLAGUE.

All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to Project Medishare for Haiti, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing its human and technical resources with its Haitian partners in the quest to achieve quality healthcare and development services for all.

About the author

Born in 1947 in Revere, Massachusetts, Dr. Fournier graduated from Merrimack College and Tufts University School of Medicine. His residency training at the hospitals affiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine was followed by two years voluntary service in the National Health Service Corps on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Dr. Fournier's academic career at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami began in 1978. He is currently a Professor of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, Vice-Chairman of Family Medicine and Associate Dean for Community Health. Dr. Fournier teaches at every year level at the Miller School of Medicine and also teaches residents from training programs in both Family Medicine and Internal Medicine. He has pioneered innovative primary care education models that bring preventive and primary health care to the underserved both in South Florida and Haiti. These innovations include health fairs and model teaching clinics serving minorities, inner city school children, the homeless migrant farm-workers and immigrants. In 1994 he, along with Dr. Barth Green, founded Project Medishare, a charity dedicated to improving heath in Haiti. Since then, he has made over one hundred trips to Haiti, supervising medical student volunteers and providing direct patient care. In 1998 he received a grant from the Open Society Institute to establish a family medicine residency-training program for Haitian physicians. Dr. Fournier was among the first to treat patients with AIDS and also recognize the socioeconomic forces driving the AIDS epidemic. His role modeling, teaching and dedication to humanitarian causes have inspired a generation of Miami medical students. His first book, The Zombie Curse, which recounts a quarter-century battle against AIDS in Miami and in Haiti, was published by the Joseph Henry Press in 2006. All proceeds from his writings are donated to Project Medishare.