HAS, the hospital in Haiti founded in 1956 by Pittsburgh native Dr. Larimer Mellon and his wife, Gwen Grant Mellon, announced today that Mrs. Mellon’s son, Ian G. Rawson, PhD, age 75, has retired from the organization’s Board, effective immediately.
Dr. Rawson, who resides in Pittsburgh, had been Managing Director of the hospital in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010, and was succeeded in October 2012 by current HAS CEO Louis Martin.
Under Dr. Rawson’s leadership, HAS won significant support for the hospital’s operations, including a highly competitive $700,000 grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The grant, awarded in 2012, is from the agency’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad program, and is helping to fund the renovation and expansion of the hospital’s inpatient and emergency room facilities.
In recognition of his lifelong service to HAS, the HAS Board elected Dr. Rawson to the position of Director Emeritus. He served as a member of the Board from 1992 to the present, and as Managing Director of HAS from January 2010 to October 2012.
“Ian has made significant contributions to the mission of HAS,” said HAS Board Chairman John Walton. “We appreciate his many years of service.”
The Board of HAS, which has expanded in the past two years to include renowned global health experts, recently approved a five-year strategic plan, in addition to recruiting professional management for both its Haitian and U.S. operations. HAS administrative operations, including marketing, development, purchasing and financial management, are based in Pittsburgh.
Under the leadership of CEO Louis Martin and HAS Development Director Lenora Vesio, HAS has strengthened and broadened its base of support, significantly increased contributed revenue, and, for the first time ever, earned accreditation by the Better Business Bureau.
“HAS was an early innovator in collaborating with communities to successfully improve public health in a challenged setting,” said John Walton. “Today the leadership of HAS is committed to ensuring the sustainability of this important institution that is a vital part of the Haitian healthcare network.”
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti (www.hashaiti.org) is located in Deschapelles, Haiti, in the Artibonite River Valley. The hospital provides medical and surgical care for more than 350,000 people living in this largely rural area.
Co-founder Larimer Mellon died in 1989. He was inspired by Dr. Albert Schweitzer in the 1940’s to become a physician and establish a hospital where there was a great need for it. His wife, Gwen, who worked side by side with Dr. Mellon at HAS and was trained as a certified medical technician, passed away in 2000.