About Us
Learn about our mission, our people, and our commitment to Haiti's children.
Our Mission
Kay Mackenson Clinic improves the lives of Haitian children with chronic illnesses by providing high-quality, compassionate, family-centered care. Through early diagnosis, expert management, education, and prevention, we help children with conditions such as type 1 diabetes and heart disease live healthier, fuller lives.
Vision
We envision a future where every child in Haiti—regardless of income, status, or location—has access to affordable, world-class medical care for chronic illnesses. As pioneers in Haitian medical excellence, we aim to greatly expand access to comprehensive, compassionate healthcare while fostering hope, dignity, and opportunity for all children.
Values
-
Compassion: Providing care with empathy, understanding, and respect for every child and family.
-
Excellence: Striving for the highest quality in medical services, education, and innovation.
-
Equity: Ensuring all children have equal access to healthcare, regardless of background.
-
Trust and Dignity: Building relationships based on honesty, respect, and the inherent worth of every person.
-
Community and Solidarity: Uniting families, healthcare providers, and partners to improve the lives of children with chronic illnesses.
Our History
From two children in need to a lifeline for many more.
The Beginning
For years, Drs. Ric and Wendy Bonnell traveled to Haiti to support medical relief efforts in underserved communities. But in 2012, their work became deeply personal.
Mackenson's Story
While in the process of adopting their son, Mackenson, he suddenly became ill and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In a country where insulin, glucose testing supplies, and specialized care were nearly impossible to obtain, Ric began flying life-saving supplies from the United States just to keep Mackenson healthy.
Walencia's Story
At the same time, pediatrician Dr. Chris Carpenter and his wife, Lisa Dickey, a public health expert, were caring for a teenage girl named Walencia who had also been newly diagnosed with diabetes. With no safe place for her to receive the care she needed, Chris and Lisa welcomed Walencia into their own apartment to help manage her treatment.
A Troubling Realization
As they navigated the challenges of managing Mackenson's and Walencia's disease, Dr. Bonnell and Dr. Carpenter made a troubling realization: in all their years working in Haiti, they had never encountered another child living with diabetes. It was not because the disease did not exist — it was because children with chronic illnesses often went undiagnosed, untreated, and unseen.
Founding the Clinic
These two stories — of Mackenson and Walencia — revealed a devastating gap in Haiti's health system. Children with chronic diseases had almost nowhere to go for care. Determined to change that reality, Ric and Chris joined forces to create a new kind of clinic — one dedicated to caring for children with chronic illnesses.
Doors Open — 2013
Just six months after Mackenson's diagnosis, the Kay Mackenson Clinic opened its doors. What began as a response to two children in need quickly became a lifeline for many more.
"
We realized that our eldest adoptive son, Mackenson, might not have survived — or could have suffered severe complications from his diabetes — had his illness not been discovered early. Children in Haiti deserve that same opportunity. My hope is that the Kay Mackenson Clinic will give children with chronic diseases the chance to live healthy, normal lives.
— Dr. Ric Bonnell, Co-Founder
Our Staff
Our team at Kay Mackenson Clinic is 100% Haitian, bringing together dedicated physicians, nurses, educators, and support staff who deeply understand the communities we serve. By investing in local expertise and leadership, we ensure that care is culturally grounded, trusted, and sustainable.
With the support of our partners and donors, this remarkable team provides life-saving care and long-term support for children living with chronic diseases in Haiti.