History of Medical Missionaries
Founded in 1997, Medical Missionaries is a vibrant, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of underserved communities. We are a passionate group of over 200 doctors, nurses, dentists, and dedicated individuals committed to making a difference both in the U.S. and around the world.
Our mission is simple yet profound: to deliver essential medical care, vital supplies, clothing, and nourishing food to the areas that need it most.
Medical Missionaries is proud to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and you can find our transparency and commitment detailed on GuideStar. We believe in harnessing the power of volunteerism to bring health and hope to those facing adversity.
Our Humble Beginnings: A Journey to Heal
In May 1997, a pivotal request came to Dr. Gil Irwin from All Saints Church in Manassas, VA: lead a medical team to Banica, Dominican Republic, and assess the healthcare needs of its people. The call was clear, and the response was swift. Over the following months, a group of volunteers rallied, gathering essential supplies and medicines for a journey into the remote, mountainous villages near the Haitian border. These villagers lived without any access to medical care, their health a daily struggle.
The First Expedition: Reaching the Unreached
By October 1997, a small but determined team was ready. Two doctors, four nurses, a civilian, a missionary priest, and a local volunteer embarked from Banica. Their path was arduous, involving hours of travel by foot and mule along steep, unforgiving trails. Backpacks heavy with supplies and water, they trekked anywhere from four to six hours to reach each remote village.
Over two weeks, this pioneering team visited six different villages, treating hundreds of patients every single day. For many, this was their first encounter with a doctor; some had even walked for days with their families just for this chance. The team administered life-saving vaccinations, treated rampant infections, and addressed medical conditions that, with basic care, could have been easily prevented.
The Seed of a Mission
Witnessing the profound absence of even the most basic healthcare, the team understood that a single trip, no matter how impactful, wouldn’t fundamentally change the situation. It was in these remote villages, amidst the overwhelming need, that the realization took root: something more had to be done. Discussions began on how to provide lasting help, nurturing the seed that had been planted. This realization, born from a desperate need and a compassionate response, marked the humble beginning of Medical Missionaries.
1998 – 1999
Expanding Our Reach: A Growing Mission
Following that initial journey, our medical teams continued to make regular trips, bringing much-needed medical and surgical care to Banica, Dominican Republic, and Thomassique, Haiti, just across the border.
Forging Connections: The Twinning Program
During this period of expanding care, a significant step was taken with the official launch of a Twinning Program. This initiative connected St. Thomas Church in Thomassique, Haiti, with U.S. parishes: All Saints Church in Manassas, VA, and St. Henry’s in Nashville, TN.
Twinning Programs are powerful collaborations, designed to foster mutual support and shared goals between parishes in different countries. They create a framework for communities to work together, deciding how best to help one another.
Building for the Future: Strategic Growth
As our efforts grew, it became clear that achieving our ambitious goal of bringing sustainable healthcare to the region demanded more than just ongoing trips. It required extensive planning and a more formal structure for the organization’s continued growth. Recognizing this, many dedicated volunteers came together, pouring their energy into strategic planning to lay the groundwork for Medical Missionaries’ vital next phase. This collaborative spirit was crucial in shaping our path forward.
2000 – 2008
Formalizing Our Mission: A New Chapter
By 2000, Medical Missionaries solidified its commitment by receiving its certificate of incorporation in the state of Virginia. This pivotal step was quickly followed by official IRS status as a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit charity, marking a significant milestone in our journey to provide sustained medical care.
Building Hope: The Birth of St. Joseph Clinic
With a formal structure in place, the Medical Missionaries leadership set ambitious plans in motion: to construct a permanent clinic in Thomassique, Haiti. This vision began to take shape with construction commencing in 2005.
On June 4, 2007, this dream became a reality as St. Joseph Clinic officially opened its doors. The clinic quickly became a cornerstone of the community, operating five days a week for general consultations and offering crucial 24/7 emergency and maternity care. In its early years alone, St. Joseph Clinic made an incredible impact, treating an average of 1,300 patients each month (over 15,000 annually) and facilitating approximately 25 births per month (300 per year). This permanent facility allowed us to dramatically expand our reach and provide consistent, life-saving services to those who needed them most.
2009 to present
Expanding Our Reach: Beyond the Clinic Walls
After St. Joseph Clinic became operational, we quickly recognized the need to address healthcare challenges beyond its immediate reach. Two key areas emerged: preventing common illnesses seen at the clinic and providing care to people in the remote villages surrounding Thomassique.
In 2009, we launched several vital programs to tackle these needs:
- Maternity and Infant Care: Ensuring healthy beginnings for mothers and their newborns.
- Water Purification: Providing access to clean, safe drinking water to prevent waterborne diseases.
- Treating Childhood Malnutrition: Offering critical nutritional support to vulnerable children.
- School Lunches: Improving the health and learning capabilities of students.
- Bon Sel: A program focused on essential nutrition and hygiene.
- Community Health Centers: Extending basic healthcare services directly into outlying villages.
Global Impact: Shipping Hope Worldwide
Our commitment to health extends far beyond Haiti. Medical Missionaries began responding to requests for help from around the globe, sending crucial medical supplies to those in need. We started partnering with other organizations to ship 40-foot sea containers packed with medical supplies and equipment, specifically designed to build healthcare infrastructure in impoverished regions, particularly in Africa. To date, Medical Missionaries has shipped over 200 sea containers of health equipment and supplies worldwide, delivering essential resources to communities facing immense challenges.
Local Compassion: Serving Our Own Backyard
Closer to home, Medical Missionaries is actively engaged in supporting communities across the United States. We’ve provided clothing, health supplies, and medical equipment to those in need in the Washington, D.C. metro area and other parts of the country. Our local efforts include:
- Supporting local health groups.
- Making monthly and sometimes bi-weekly trips to Appalachia and American Indian reservations in Oklahoma and South Dakota, delivering vital clothes and household items.
- Providing disaster relief to victims of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes throughout the USA.
Whether across oceans or within our own borders, Medical Missionaries is dedicated to bringing health and hope to those who need it most.
For more about the history of Medical Missionaries:
- Watch the video About Medical Missionaries: 20 Years of Serving the Poor. Produced to celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2017, this video features interviews with our founder Dr. Gil Irwin, and numerous doctors, nurses, and other volunteers.
- Purchase commemorative books on the History of Medical Missionaries published in 2017 to celebrate our 20th anniversary, featuring our history, and stories from founder Dr. Gil Irwin, and other volunteers.
- To keep up to date on our current activities, be sure to follow Medical Missionaries on Facebook.
