Inception of the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB)

Grieving the death of his wife and infant daughter, a young American doctor named Dr. Paluel Flagg sought solace in ministry. In Haiti, he served those with Hansen’s Disease (commonly known as leprosy)—and saw the immense need there and around the world. That realization sparked an idea—to encourage medical missionaries to bring health solutions to the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Medical Donations Program Begins

Father Garesche organized hundreds of volunteers to collect unused medicines and bandages. Two New York City brownstones became a warehouse for supplies being sent overseas. From these early beginnings, CMMB’s Medical Donations Program was formed.

Supporting the AIDS Fight

By launching Choose to Care, CMMB made a five-year, $5 million commitment to support AIDS patients and orphans in South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana, and Lesotho. Two years later, CMMB launched Born to Live, a new initiative to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.

CMMB Haiti Opens

CMMB expanded its work in Haiti beyond medical donations and volunteer placement to support mothers and children in vulnerable communities through the project, “Back to Haiti.”

Focus on Women and Children

CMMB’s Action for Family Health program provided primary healthcare for children under 5—addressing the preventable tragedy of childhood deaths.

Joining Forces Against AIDS

With funding through PEPFAR, CMMB joined AIDSRelief, a Catholic consortium providing prevention services and treatment for HIV/AIDS.

A Record-Breaking Volunteer Cohort

Following in our founder’s footsteps, CMMB’s largest volunteer cohort went out into the world—286 volunteers in 33 countries, providing 18,233 days of service, at a value of $5.6 million.

CMMB Haiti Began a Community HIV/AIDS Project

CMMB’s HIV/AIDS programming in South Africa was recognized. It contributed to the “Action for Family Health” award used to engage in the response HIV/AIDS in Haiti.

CMMB Responds to Crisis in Haiti

After a devastating earthquake, CMMB sent $49.7 million in medicine and supplies to aid recovery. CMMB Haiti also rebuilt and reconceptualized a small prosthetics studio destroyed by the earthquake. It became the site of a training program for young Haitians in the art and engineering of prosthetics and orthotics.

100 Years in Haiti

CMMB celebrates 100 years since its founder Dr. Paluel Flagg began his service in Haiti.

Advancing Care for Hansen’s Disease 

A small initiative in a hospital conference room began offering care to people with unexplained skin conditions. The clinic evolved into Klinik Sen Damien (Clinic Saint Damien), Haiti’s only dedicated Hansen’s Disease (leprosy) clinic serving the northern half of the country.

An Emphasis on Women and Children

By launching its Children and Mothers Partnerships (CHAMPS) program, CMMB invested in health solutions for women and children, a critical focus of our work.

New Visual Identity and Brand

With a new logo featuring an ampersand (&), we more accurately reflected the partnerships and collaborations that make our work possible. We also shortened our brand name to CMMB.

Growing Healthcare Access in Haiti

The Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Center for Health opened in Côtes-de-Fer, Haiti, providing healthcare to more than 70,000 people.

Delivering Health Solutions to Women and Children

CMMB launched a new strategy for its signature CHAMPS program, expanding its service to the most vulnerable populations.

Pandemic Response

As the COVID-19 pandemic caused a global public health crisis, CMMB Haiti partnered with the country’s ministry of health to launch programming in education and vaccination. CMMB was responsible for 30% of all COVID-19 vaccinations administered during this response period.

Rapid Response in Haiti

When another earthquake caused devastation in Haiti, CMMB responded within hours with emergency medical supplies.

CMMB Celebrates 110th Anniversary

As we responded to urgent global crises, CMMB commemorated its 110 years of service.