Hi! Nice to meet you.
The Say:Do team is dedicated to improving the lives of patients and to providing healthcare training to young people who want to make a difference.
We’re a small but mighty group working in partnership in Cite Soleil, Haiti and across the U.S. The mobile clinic, and all programming, is entirely Haitian led and run, with fundraising and medical advisory support from Seattle.
Before the mobile clinic, people in Cite Soleil did not have access to reliable healthcare. Now, the mobile clinic treats over 300 patients each month, and we have sponsored the educations of 12 nurses so far.
We specialize in and strive for the highest quality care even in the most austere environments and in training the next generation of healthcare leaders.
What’s with the name?
We all have a Say:Do ratio.
There is a Haitian proverb often muttered under frustrated breath when discussing unkept promises made by NGOs. “Neg di san fe”, it means all talk and no action.
Our Haitian team knows what their neighbors need and they have the ideas to make it happen.
Together we are all about thoughtful action, led by the community.
We have a 1:1 ratio of saying and doing. Trust is the name of our game. That’s why we named our organization Say:Do.
This ethos has leaked over into all aspects of our lives.
So, what’s your Say:Do ratio?
Meet the Team
Jodi Spangler - Co-Founder
Jodi is a resident physician in Family Medicine. She was a medical responder after the earthquakes in both Haiti and Nepal. Samuel & Jodi began sponsoring healthcare worker scholarships and running mobile clinics in Cite Soleil, Haiti 10 years ago. This work has blossomed into Say:Do. She is passionate about preventive medicine, environmental wellness, wilderness and austere medicine
Her work has been featured in MTVAct, the OC Register, Seth Godin's blog, Daily Bruin, NBC, and more. Jodi has spoken at TEDx, the DO Lectures, Orange Coast College, IUSD Teen Summit, and the NW Wilderness Medicine Conference. You can find her jumping out of planes, surfing, camping in her Westfalia, hiking and cooking with whatever she pulled out of her little family garden.
Samuel Saintvil - Co-founder
Samuel is an experienced social worker, logistician, and pharmacy tech. His leadership and vision guides the operational side of the organization. Patients lovingly refer to him as the mayor of Cite Soleil.
Samuel is the glue that keeps Say:Do running. He wears many hats, and can make any idea a reality. With grace, a sense of humor, and unmatched determination.
We could go on and on about how special he is, how much he inspires us all, and about his unwavering support for his community. Instead, we will just say this: everyone at Say:Do is thrilled to know him and is stoked to continue to achieve the impossible together.
tilden Keller - Board member
Tilden is a resident physician in San Diego, CA. She graduated from University of Washington School of Medicine. She is a Peace Corps alumnus, with extensive experience in global health and community service. Tilden brings valuable expertise to our organization.
Her positive energy is contagious and she inspires everyone around her to care more, to connect more, and to be more generous. Her huge heart and wonderful values are backed with purposeful action. We just call her a force of nature.
Edeline Rubin - medical advisory board
A nursing school alumni and leader, Edeline takes care of each patient at the mobile clinic as if the were her own family member.
Edeline has said that becoming a nurse changed her life. We can confidently say that her passion and expertise has changed the lives of many patients in Cite Soleil for the better since she graduated.
She helps guide the nursing program and medical direction of Say:Do.
Kendy Jean - patient coordinator
“If it is an opportunity to help people, I’m there.”
Kendy started off as a youth volunteer in the clinic, and his leadership role has expanded ever since. We are so proud to have Kendy as part of the team. Everything he does, is done with heart and compassion. He is the perfect person to be in charge of patient coordination, making sure each member has what they need to stay healthy.
In loving memory, Dr. Paul
Dr. Paul was a loved colleague, friend and mentor. In the early days of the clinic, he volunteered to treat patients free of charge until we became a proper NGO. He always greeted everyone with a smile, was a patient teacher, and caring physician. To say he will be missed is an understatement. We feel & mourn this loss profoundly.
Emmanuel Saint vil - program director
Emmanuel is a future physician and jack of all trades at Say:Do. From home health visits, to program ideas, to setting up hand-washing stations. Emmanuel gets things done.
We are beyond grateful to have Emmanuel on board. He is an advocate for his patients, and the community at large. A true leader, we are inspired to work with such an incredible individual.
UlamÉne - clinic coordinator
Ulaméne has been a powerhouse in the mobile clinic for over a year now. She is why everything runs smoothly and stays organized. Patients love her, and she is a treasured member of the Say:Do team.
A Brief History of Say:Do
Partnership
Jodi and Samuel met working on a medical disaster relief team after the 2010 earthquake, sparking a decade-long friendship. They began working together on countless community projects led by Samuel, including a mentorship program for young men in Cite Soleil, supporting a local children’s home for kids who lost their parents in the earthquake, and assisting people who needed access to a doctor and medications. This partnership lead to co-founding Say:Do.
Healthcare Scholarships
In 2011, we discussed how silly it is that many NGOs were relying on short-term expatriate medical missions when so many friends wanted the opportunity to take care of their own communities. This is how the scholarship and healthcare worker training program began. Through crowdfunding, Jodi, Samuel, and friends began providing young Haitian students healthcare higher education scholarships and have since sponsored 12 nurses and even more healthcare technicians. At Say:Do, we strongly believe that healthcare is best delivered by someone with a deep understanding of the patients’ & community’s needs. With continuity, with reliability, and without a language barrier. Learn more about the healthcare worker training program.
Mobile Clinic
Living in Cite Soleil, Samuel saw that people in his neighborhood could not access care, so we started the mobile clinic. We work with local physicians, nurses who graduated our initial training program, and youth leadership in the community to provide free care to our patients’ doorstep. The mobile clinic has been fully operational since 2018 and is entirely Haitian led and run. Learn more about the mobile clinic.
Expanding
With the success of these programs, and the increased funding raised, Say:Do became an official 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization. Our leadership team in Haiti has expanded, including powerhouses like Emmanuel, Edeline, Kendy, and Ulamene. We also have the honor or working with incredible folks offering fundraising and medical advisory expertise including Tilden Keller, Steve Larosiliere, Dr. Stephanie Tardieu and more. Learn more about our team.
COVID-19
With rising cases of COVID-19 in Haiti, our team has spearheaded a rapid response in Cite Soleil. We have set up hundreds of bucket hand-washing stations, provided masks to every patient and their families, provided free medications in 3-month supplies, and distributed emergency food support to hundreds of families in need. Read more about the response here.
Thank you!
With our incredible team, lead by young people in Cite Soleil, we are constantly on the tenacious pursuit of better: Better care, safer communities, more connection. We would never be able to do this work without your enthusiasm and support.
We are all jumping for joy in Haiti and Seattle that you care, that you are working to make things better, and that you continue to show up for those who need you. We will continue to work on our Say:Do ratio every day. We hope you will join us and do the same.