When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, CRUDEM President, Dr. Peter Kelly will turn over the reins to newly elected CRUDEM President, Dr. David G. Butler of New Jersey. After six exuberant, challenging and historic years, Dr. Kelly’s term ends on December 31, 2011. In accordance with CRUDEM by-laws, a president may serve two consecutive three year terms after which, Dr. Kelly sits on the board as a non-voting past president.   Dr. Butler had little thought of assuming the role of president of a foundation and the largest private hospital in the North of Haiti, when he first visited Hôpital Sacré Coeur in 1992.

“I was recruited by my cousin Cary Sheren and her husband Lorne who had volunteered at the hospital and told me of the need for an Obstetrician-Gynecologist in Haiti.” Like others who travel to Haiti, Butler focused on giving his talents in service to people in great need.

A Fellow in the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Dr. Butler has worked in private practice in Englewood, NJ for 38 years and serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Holy Name Medical Center. While more than prepared to handle any healthcare need in his field with an impressive array of modern treatment options, Dr. Butler found himself returning to the basics during that first visit to HSC. “The hospital was very rudimentary at that time,” he notes. The one story facility did not include an x-ray room, multiple ORs or any number of procedure rooms and equipment. “The mission seemed very obvious at that time: do the best and the most you can to help ease the suffering so obvious in the town of Milot.”

As with most medical volunteers, it didn’t take long for Dr. Butler to fall under the compelling spell of Milot. “I became hooked by the people who responded so wholeheartedly to the simplest thing that was done for them,” he remembers.

“I returned yearly for a few years, and then gradually this increased to 2-3 times a year, as I became more involved with CRUDEM.” Increased involvement strengthened Dr. Butler’s vision for the hospital. “We hoped to continue to aid the people and to build the hospital into an institution that Haiti could be proud of.”

Since the new President’s first visit, 19 years ago, HSC has experienced explosive growth in facilities, capacity, and demand for patient services. ”The new ORs, X-Ray rooms, laboratory, blood bank, cardiac surgery, and NICU could not have been conceived of in 1992,” marvels Butler.

One common response from visitors to HSC is that they take away much more than they give; their lives irreversibly changed. Dr. Butler too acknowledges the many gifts he has received because of his involvement with the hospital. “Working with HSC has certainly made me more patient and aware that change, especially in Haiti, takes time. I have tried to put that concept to work in my everyday life and try to be somewhat more reasonable in my expectations,” he says. “Besides patience, some of the other ‘gifts’ have been observing the tolerance, endurance, acceptance and unflappability of the Haitian people in some of the most incredible circumstances you can imagine.”

A devout Catholic and Knight in the Order of Malta, Dr. Butler’s faith runs deep and drives his immense desire to serve others. Working in Haiti amplifies that calling. “My faith has been sustained by observing in Haitians their incredible faith in God to lead them through the only life they’ll ever know. Their faith is overwhelming.”   So how will that faith, drive and talent guide Butler in his new role? “My goal as President is to continue the exemplary work of [Past Presidents] Ted Dubuque, Tom Flynn and Peter Kelly and to build on their accomplishments. The greatest challenge will be attempting to involve Milot in the everyday life of the hospital, which they increasingly look to as their key to better healthcare and even as a path to a better life for all the townspeople.

Of course, this can only be accomplished if we continue to spread the story of HSC and redouble our fundraising efforts.”

Even having borne witness to the incredible evolution of Hôpital Sacré Coeur, Dr. Butler concedes that predicting all the details of its future path remains difficult. “Knowing how much the hospital has changed over the last 20 years, I wouldn’t even guess at what it will look like six years from now. Who could foresee the earthquake and cholera epidemic and how they forced us to improve so dramatically in such a short period of time. Hopefully, our next boost will come from an upturn in the world economy, a stable Haitian government, world peace–something which will allow us to direct our resources to enriching the lives of these people whom we love so much.”

Whatever the next years bring, rest assured, CRUDEM/ Hôpital Sacré Coeur will have a capable, compassionate and forward-thinking President at its helm.