Q: Where were you Born?
I was born in Port-au-Prince Haiti. I attended Union School followed by “Les Frères de Instruction Chrétienne“, Notre Dame for Elementary school . I completed my High school education at Petit Séminaire Collège Saint Martial in Port-au-Prince. After I completed Philosophie, I traveled to the United States to study.
Q: Tell us about your family.
My father was a physician (infectious disease / hospital administrator) and director of the military health care system in Haiti. I grew up in a nuclear family with my mother, father, grandfather (a Latin and Greek professor), grandmother and siblings. I met my wife when we were both High School students in Haiti. I married Marie May who is from Cap-Haitian the last year of my medical school studies. My wife studied Pharmacy at Texas Southern University while I was completing my Urology residency at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Texas. Both of our children were born Texas. Our son was our first born and years later we had our daughter. Both of our children have graduated from the University of Miami.
Q: When did you move to Florida?
I moved to Florida in 1998 after I completed my fellowship in Neuro-Urology and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). After my fellowship I was recruited by the University of Miami to develop the Female Urology and Reconstructive Urology Program.
Q: Tell us about your formal training. How long did it take you to train after you graduated High School in Haiti?
After I graduated from High School in Haiti, I attended the City University of New York (York College). I graduated with a 4.0 perfect GPA in my major (3 years) and was the valedictorian of my class. I received my medical degree summa cum laude (4 years) with highest honors from the Yale University School of Medicine. I completed my residency (6 years) at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Texas and a postdoctoral fellowship in Urodynamics (University of Miami), female urology and pelvic floor reconstruction at the University of California, Los Angeles (2 years). I am double Boarded – Certified by the American Board of Urology and Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. This adds up to 15 years of training after High School.
Q: Tell us a little bit more about your academic career?
I am one the very few fellowship-trained reconstructive and neuro-urologists in South Florida, I am currently the Director of the Bladder Health and Reconstructive Urology Institute. I have performed more than one-thousand complex reconstructive procedures. I am the Fellowship Director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Urology at the Memorial Hospital Miramar. I am a former tenured Professor of Urology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Urology, Vice-Chairman of the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics Urology service, where I was also the Urology Residency Program Director and Fellowship Director for Female Urology, Urodynamics, and Reconstructive Surgery for more than ten years. I was also the Director of the Urodynamics Laboratory at the Miami VA Medical Center where I supervised the Neuro-Urologic care of the spinal cord injured patients.
Q: Tell us about your greatest academic and professional accomplishments.
I was the first to offer Sacral Nerve Modulation (Interstim- 1998) and intra-detrusor injection of Botox for urinary problems in South Florida year 2000 to benefit patients with various bladder control conditions. My research interests have focused on overactive bladder neuropharmacology, reconstruction of the urinary tract, neurogenic urinary incontinence, as well as functional recovery from spinal cord injury. I have pioneered the optimal dosage of neurotoxins (Botox) to manage bladder dysfunction. My investigator-initiated research projects on Botox chemodernervation in human subjects have led the way to the first FDA urologic indication of Botox in the United States, the Neurogenic bladder clinical trial. I have also participated and co-authored in clinical trials which have led to the FDA approval of the first Beta-3 drug to treat overactive bladder, Merebegron (marketed as Myrbetriq). I am currently the chief surgeon investigator (Precision Medical Devices) for a novel artificial urinary sphincter being developed for human usage using blue tooth technology and a telemetric computerized platform.
I have authored or co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications (Pub Med) , numerous textbook chapters, journal articles and scientific abstracts and poster presentations. I serve as an editor of many Urology Journals in the United States and Abroad. I currently serve on the Guideline panel of he American Urologic Association. The Guidelines dictate standard of urologic care in the United States.
Q: Tell us about speaking engagements in the United States and Globally.
I have delivered more than 200 scientific presentations globally. I have participated as a guest professor in the United States and abroad on various aspects of reconstructive urology and voiding dysfunction, and regularly lecture as an expert in the field of urology. I have lectured in Asia, Europe, South America, Central America and the Caribbean on numerous occasions. I was the keynote speaker at the centennial meeting of the Association Francaise d’Urologie – AFU in Paris, representing the United States.
I have been a plenary panelist or speaker at the most prestigious American Urologic Association (AUA) yearly meeting on numerous occasions. In fact, I currently serve on the scientific planning committee of the American Urologic Association Annual Meeting. I was appointed to the board for the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) where I served for 10 years. I was the Chairperson of the SUFU Residency Committee. I also served on the executive board of the Genito-Urinary Reconstructive Surgeons (GURS) Society.
In addition, I served on the American Urology Association Female Urology Core Curriculum Committee. Working with the Global Philanthropic Committee in Urology (GPC), I am currently the AUA liaison for the Global Association for the support of Haitian Urology (GASHU) dedicated to developing the field of Urology in Haiti. I have served as chair and organizer of the internationally well attended yearly didactic Urology Conference in Haiti.
Q: Tell us about some of your accolades ?
I am listed in “Best Doctors in America” for 13 consecutive years 2005-2018, (Best Doctors in America is most prestigious peer-reviewed Doctors award in the US) , US News and World Report 2011-2012, America’s Top Urologists by the prestigious Consumer’s Research Council of America 2008, Strathmore’s Who’s Who since 2001, the Miller University of Miami Medical School’s Urology Teacher of the Year Award on numerous occasions, the Pfizer Scholars in Urology Award, the Cullen Research Award from the Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Dr. Jonas Salk Scholar Award . In addition, I have received my community awards which I cherish very much. Most recently, I receive the “Award of Excellence” by the Association des Médecins Haitiens à L’ Etranger ( AMHE ) on December 15, 2018.
Q: Among all these awards which one means the most to you?
I must say that I cherish all my awards. However, I would admit that the Dr. Jonas Salk Scholar Award is very important to me. This awarded was given to me by the Nobel Laureat Dr Jonas Salk who had discovered the Polio Vaccine. I was selected for the scholarship because of my First Prize College work on E Coli microbial genetics under the supervision of Dr Leslie Lewis, my Minority Biomedical Research Support ( MBRS) Program mentor. The Dr. Jonas Salk Scholarship allowed me to afford my Yale University School of Medicine tuition.
Q: How have you interacted with the Haitian Community?
When I moved to Florida, I wanted to be useful to the Haitian Community. I felt there was a need for more public education related to health conditions. I started hosting a Radio show “Consultation Urologique en Creole” and a Television show “Urology Health”. Both shows have been on the “air” uninterrupted for more than 10 years. In addition, a few years ago, I started writing bi-weekly chronicles on ‘LE FLORIDIEN’. In addition, I co-founded the Haitian American Leadership Organization ( HALO ).
Q: What exactly was the mission of HALO www.halohaiti.org you co-founded?
The mission of HALO is to support and promote the development of future leaders through education. Provide a link between the existing community organizations to facilitate networking. Provide a platform for our thought leaders and experts from all academic, professional and technical backgrounds, to exchange ideas, collaborate, and share their knowledge with our community and finally to improve the image of Haitians throughout South Florida, and promote excellence in our community. HALO has provided scholarships to young talents from our community and has organized very elaborate Galas to promote our culture while fundraising for our philanthropic endeavors.
Q: What Philanthropic work are you doing in Haiti? If any?
Currently, my main focus is to help develop better urologic training and care in Haiti.
Most of the work is being done through the Global Association for the Support of Haitian Urology (GASHU) which I have spear headed with a group of the Haitian and International Urologists. The work has led to novel approaches to rapidly develop urology in resource poor countries such as Haiti.
Q: What are your hobbies?
Traveling, Cycling, roller skating, table-tennis, jet-skiing, fishing, and boating.
Q- What advice do you have for the others who want to be successful in their profession.
Follow your dream. Never be discouraged. Overcome challenges. Remain focus. Make friends and collaborators. Aim for excellence and dedicate your life to serve others. All the rest will follow.
By Elizabeth Paucar Harris, M.B.A.
