NEW YORK, NY – May 08, 2025 – Dr. Jeffrey Gardere, better known as “Dr. Jeff,” America’s psychologist,” has joined forces with Sheila Thorne, president & CEO, Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group, LLC (MHMG) and Sabine Poisson, president, Sabine Poisson, Inc. to launch a national campaign to fight heart disease in Haiti.
“When Sheila Thorne invited me to join her team to address this humanitarian crisis in Haiti, I enthusiastically accepted,” said Dr. Jeff, highly sought TV commentator on health issues, mental health expert, prolific author, and respected academician of Haitian descent.
“Now is the time — not just for communities of African or Haitian descent, but for all who hold faith, hope, and compassion close to their hearts — to transform words into action,” continued Dr. Jeff, Honored Chair of The Heart of the Matter campaign. “Let us come together, in unity and love, to bring healing — of mind, body, and spirit — to our brothers and sisters in Haiti who are in urgent need,” continued Dr. Jeff.
“Ensuring the fundamental right of healthcare is critical to restoring hope, pride, and dignity to the Haitian people,” added Jude Elie, Haitian Presidential candidate, enthusiastic supporter of The Heart of the Matter Campaign.
Haiti has endured constant challenges, natural disasters and civil and political violence reaching unprecedented levels over the last three years. Heart disease now accounts for approximately 27 % of all deaths in Haiti, compared to 6.7 % for HIV.
High blood pressure in Haitians is five times higher than levels in the U.S. Heart failure is the most prevalent cardiovascular event in Haiti, estimated at 11.6% compared to 0.83 % worldwide.
“Sabine Poisson, Haitian-born and a French expatriate, is fiercely committed to honoring the strength and resilience of the Haitian people, while celebrating the richness of Haitian culture, its contributions, and its independence since 1804. Her passion inspired our collaboration on The Heart of the Matter campaign — an initiative to combat heart disease in Haiti,” stated Sheila Thorne, Honored Co-Chair of The Heart of the Matter Campaign, fluent in French and a nationally recognized multicultural health educator and marketing expert. “
Dr. Jeff and Sheila bring their passion, decades of experience, knowledge and unwavering commitment to achieving quality healthcare for marginalized communities,” added Poisson. “I was honored that they agreed to Chair and Co-Chair The Heart of the Matter Campaign,” continued Poisson.
The inaugural event of The Heart of the Matter Campaign will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 6–9 p.m. at L’Escale, located in the iconic Delamar Harbor Hotel in Greenwich, Connecticut.
The evening will highlight the extraordinary work of internationally renowned Dr. Jean William Pape, Howard and Carol Holtzmann Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, member of the World Health Organization’s Science Council, and Founder and Executive Director of Les Centres GHESKIO in Haiti, along with pioneering co-founder and Deputy Director Dr. Marie-Marcelle Deschamps.
Since its inception, GHESKIO Centers in Haiti, a non-governmental organization, has been supported by Weill Cornell, Fondation Mérieux, Luon France, and Analysis Group by Pierre Cremieux, alongside the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other national and international institutions, as a model of public–private–international partnership.
For over 40 years, GHESKIO has partnered with Haiti’s Ministry of Health to design and scale national models for HIV/AIDS and TB care. In recent years, GHESKIO, in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine, launched the GHESKIO Cardiovascular Clinic and Research Unit to address rising rates of hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes, stroke, and heart failure across a 14-site network of public and private hospitals in Haiti.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the GHESKIO CVD Clinic to support the purchase of critical diagnostic and imaging equipment, medications, and laboratory supplies.
MHMG, LLC and Sabine Poisson Inc. cordially invite you to join us on May 20 at the Delamar Harbor Hotel in Greenwich, Connecticut for an extraordinary evening in support of The Heart of the Matter Campaign.
RSVP: www.sheilathorne.com
