Faculty from SUNY Brockport and SUNY Buffalo, along with three DNP students from SUNY Buffalo, participated in this initial visit with the goal of conducting a community needs assessment to better understand local health priorities and design a program that meets the needs of the population. During the visit, the team worked with vulnerable communities in which they provided care in several settings, including a local public health clinic focused on pediatric and women’s health, an orphanage where dental needs were assessed and fluoride varnish was applied, and an HIV and adult medicine clinic serving Haitian immigrants.
The team also organized a full-day workshop for local healthcare professionals that focused on HIV treatment for pregnant women in the United States and included discussion of the community’s most pressing health needs and opportunities for patient education and health promotion. A roundtable with physicians from across the province offered additional insight into how a partnership with SUNY could support better care delivery. Building on the success of this initial visit, the team plans to return in 2027 to continue strengthening the partnership and further develop the program.