Our History
The story of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti begins with a LIFE magazine article published in October 1947 about the medical missionary and philosopher Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Dr. Schweitzer’s commitment to bringing medical care to equatorial Africa had earned him the title, according to LIFE, of “the greatest man in the world.”
On the other side of the world, Larry Mellon—an heir of the Mellon banking and industrial fortune and then a successful cattle rancher in Arizona—was so transformed after reading this article that he felt moved to become a physician in a similarly challenged part of the world. From the beginning, Larry’s wife, Gwen Grant Mellon, completely supported the idea.
Dr. Larry and Gwen Mellon came to Haiti in the 1950’s with the conviction that all human beings are deserving of compassion, care, and respect. They felt the Lower Artibonite Valley was where the greatest need intersected with the greatest potential to help.
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti opened its doors on June 26, 1956 in Deschapelles. Named in honor of Dr. Schweitzer, the hospital, with its modern facilities and services, became a model for effective, compassionate healthcare in the developing world.
For over 65 years, HAS has been at the forefront of caring for many of Haiti’s most vulnerable and medically fragile citizens, including infants, children, and their mothers. We are committed to confronting the most pressing, complex, and evolving challenges facing Haiti today.