History

During the year 1984, while completing his third year of medical school, Dr. Herold Simon decided to materialize his vision for organizing a medical study group. His ba­sic goal was to create a stimulating forum for continuing education. In July 1983, he contacted Dr. D" Augustine and other col­leagues, and then a group of medical students met for the first time on the second Saturday of December I 984, in the lobby of Down­state Medical Center (now State University Health Science Center at Brooklyn). All those students are now practicing physi­cians.

As the organization grew in numbers and excelled in achieving its goals, the members decided that it was time to elect a cabinet. We held our first election in November 1985 and our very first officers were Jean D' Augustine, M.D. (Chairperson) and Mona Pervil, M.D. (Vice Chairperson). We are incorporated under New York State, with a governing Board of Directors. In 1997, we received our not-for-profit sta­tus as a 501 (c) (3) organization. Our office/ educational center is located in Flatbush section of Brooklyn.

While one of our major goals is medical education, we view this as a means toward an end. From the very beginning, Aescle­pius members have been committed to the goal of helping to improve the health status of our community, the Haitian and African-American communities of New York City which are severely un­derserved. We continue to reach out to com­munities through volunteer efforts which improve their awareness of the major health problems that affect their daily lives, to reduce morbidity and mortality for manageable and preventable diseases. We participate in community health fairs with the Caribbean Women's Health Association in Brooklyn, and many other organizations, helping to screen, counsel and refer patients for a wide range of medical problems.

On December 4-5, 2002, AMS orga­nized a public health conference entitled: HIV Prevention Among Caribbean Im­migrants: Strategies for Success, Lessons Learned. It was sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and co­sponsored by other organizations. The con­ference was unique in that it provided an avenue for different organizations 1 to share their experiences and learn new modali­ties pertaining to HIV education and pre­vention. More than two hundred and fifty participants gathered to listen and commu­nicate with speakers who belong to various organizations. The event was successful and certainly a quantum leap for the society.

The vision of a handful of young ambi­tious students has become the reality for helping Haiti, educating future generations, and serving our community with high qual­ity, caring physicians.

On January 12, 2010, Haiti was catapulted into the worst humanitarian crisis it has ever seen when the earthquake struck the capital city of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas. The level of devastation has been unimaginable, the pain and suffering have been ongoing. Given the massive scale of Haiti's medical crisis and the urgency of saving lives, two (2) Haitian-American medical organizations, the Aesclepius Medical Society and Doc's Tee-Time, consolidated into one; keeping the name: Aesclepius Medical Society. This merger ensured multiple health missions to many parts of Haiti, countless donations, a fight against cholera, and sending very poor children to school.