Meet Brenda Lormil-Raymond—a dedicated, compassionate, and dynamic leader committed to transforming the delivery of health education for Haitian-American communities in Massachusetts. Raised by Haitian immigrant parents, Brenda’s cultural background served as the driving force behind the establishment of HAMA in April 2017. This organization is committed to addressing health disparities and enhancing access to equitable care within the Haitian community. They achieve this by offering culturally sensitive health information and also by nurturing the pipeline of culturally diverse healthcare professionals through annual academic scholarship opportunities and mentorship support for Haitian students in Massachusetts.
The phrase “healthcare system failures” often evokes a sense of hopelessness, but Brenda’s perspective is refreshingly different. She firmly believes that grassroots efforts by community organizations like HAMA play a vital role in informing, educating, and empowering patients and their families, thereby bridging the gap to better care. Although HAMA’s journey started in Boston, Brenda envisions its impact transcending borders as they collaborate with other organizations and individuals to reach Haitian communities in different states and countries.
Currently serving as the Equity Nurse Practitioner for Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston, MA, Brenda provides patient-centered care to phase I clinical trial participants in the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies. Working alongside other passionate professionals at MGH, Brenda seeks innovative ways to ensure equitable access to clinical trial care.
Brenda’s nursing journey began in 2011, and since then, she has continuously honed her leadership skills, which now benefit her growing HAMA and VDI Consulting team. She is an alumna of Regis College in Weston, MA, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2011 and her Master of Science in Nursing in 2015.