Clinical Programs
The Kay Mackenson Clinic (KMC) was founded in January 2013 in Pierre Payen, Haiti, to address a critical gap in healthcare services for children with diabetes and other chronic diseases. KMC is a stand-alone outpatient facility that continues to serve as the country’s leading pediatric chronic care center. Patients are primarily referred from health centers in the Artibonite, Central Plateau, Port-au-Prince, and Northern Departments, though families travel from across Haiti to access KMC’s specialized services.
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KMC’s care delivery model is built on a foundation of locally led, high-quality care. All routine medical services are provided by specialty-trained Haitian physicians and nurses, ensuring culturally grounded and sustainable service delivery. External pediatric subspecialists contribute through targeted training, protocol development, and consultation as needed. Care is designed to be comprehensive, patient- and family-centered, and continuous. Nurses are available 24 hours a day for follow-up and urgent calls, while a Haitian physician oversees all clinical care at all times. An electronic medical record system supports consistent documentation, continuity of care, and secure communication with subspecialty consultants.
From the time of diagnosis, every patient is enrolled in KMC’s comprehensive program of treatment and self-management education. Essential medications, insulin, and supplies are provided free of charge for life, eliminating a key barrier to survival. Patients receive structured follow-up through both in-person visits and proactive phone outreach tailored to each child’s medical needs and psychosocial situation.
The Kay Mackenson Diabetes Program
Kay Mackenson Clinic began treating a single child with diabetes in 2013 and has since grown to care for over 100 children and adolescents across Haiti. Our comprehensive clinical care program equips patients and families with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to effectively manage type 1 diabetes and live healthier lives.
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Through the support of the International Diabetes Federation’s Life for a Child program (www.lifeforachild.org), we provide essential supplies including insulin, glucometers, glucose test strips, syringes, fast-acting glucose, and glucagon for emergencies.
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Children receive regular in-person visits at our outpatient clinic—typically monthly or quarterly—with phone follow-ups as needed between visits. To ensure access to care at all times, families are given cell phones if they do not already have one, and a 24-hour hotline is available for urgent questions or emergencies. Every child is routinely screened for diabetes complications as part of their ongoing care.
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Beyond clinical services, our team leads a growing outreach and education program to:
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Raise awareness about childhood diabetes in local communities.
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Train medical providers on the basics of diagnosis and management.
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Dedicate time and resources to quality improvement, monitoring, evaluation, and research in both clinical care and public health.
The Kay Mackenson Heart Program
Some children are born with heart conditions, while others develop them over time—for example, rheumatic heart disease can occur after certain bacterial infections. When heart problems become severe enough to affect the heart’s function, surgery may be required.
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In cases where a heart valve is too tight or too leaky, children may need a new artificial or “prosthetic” valve. These patients often require lifelong blood thinners to prevent dangerous clots from forming on the new valves. At Kay Mackenson Clinic, we provide comprehensive follow-up care for children who have undergone heart surgery, ensuring their blood is monitored regularly and remains safely thinned to protect their health.