Dr. Boutroce Gally Pierre is one of our longest-serving and most impactful mentors. With joy, humility, and unwavering dedication, he has worked hand in hand with Thrive Ansanm to help students grow both academically and personally. His mentorship has not only supported individual students but has also significantly contributed to the growth and vitality of our overall program. Born in Platon in September 1992, Boutroce Gally Pierre is the youngest of six children in a Christian family originally from Fonds Cochon, a remote area of Haiti’s Grand’anse department. Despite growing up in modest circumstances, he charted an inspiring path to becoming a respected and skilled physician, never allowing his background to define his future.
He completed his secondary education at Jean Wesley College, where he stood out early on for his proactive spirit and deep involvement in extracurricular activities. From the literary club and engineering projects to sports and the marching band, Dr. Boutroce was always engaged. These early experiences helped shape his civic responsibility and laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to community leadership. He finished second in his class in the national baccalaureate exams, demonstrating that determination and heart can take you far.
Driven by a passion for medicine and social justice, he began his university studies at the UNIFA Faculty of Medicine in Port-au-Prince. He was later trained in social medicine with EquaHealth under the leadership of the late Dr. Paul Farmer, which deepened his understanding of health equity. He transferred to Lumière University and graduated among the top two students in his class. Despite offers to study abroad, he chose to stay in Haiti, demonstrating his commitment to local development over personal gain.
After graduating from Lumière University, Dr. Boutroce declined international opportunities to remain in Haiti, and he turned down elite medical positions in Port-au-Prince to return to his hometown of Jeremie. He has volunteered his time at hospitals such as Immaculate Conception in Les Cayes and HHF and Saint-Antoine Hospital in Jeremie. He founded the Medical Intervention Brigade (BIM) to provide healthcare to underserved regions through mobile clinics and awareness campaigns. He also engaged in professional exchanges in Senegal and Niger aimed at strengthening NGO capacity and sharing BIM’s innovative approach. He has served as a consultant for Project HOPE and administrator for FHADIMAC in Jeremie. Most recently, he became the director for Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health for the entire Grand-Anse department. He is the youngest person ever to be appointed to this position, and he is determined to do his best to positively reshape the region’s healthcare system.
But beyond the titles and training, what sets Dr. Boutroce apart is his deep compassion for people and his consistent presence in the lives of our students. Whether mentoring one-on-one, speaking at our youth events, or leading community health discussions with Thrive Ansanm students, he gives his time generously and treats every young person with dignity and respect. For many of our students, he is more than a mentor; he is a symbol of hope. His life story proves that success is not reserved for the privileged but earned through vision, grit, and service to others. His involvement with Thrive Ansanm is not just professional; it’s deeply personal. He sees in these students the future of Haiti and acts accordingly with love, patience, and high expectations.
As community development expert John McKnight once said, “Every community is filled with invisible leaders, individuals whose talents, relationships, and efforts keep the community alive.” Dr. Boutroce is one of those rare leaders who moves quietly but leaves a deep impact.
And in the words of Bell Hooks, “There is no better way to teach community than to practice it openly and generously.” Through his daily actions and choices, Dr. Boutroce models exactly that.
At Thrive Ansanm, our mission is to offer young people and children the chance to pursue a holistic education that will empower them to transform their communities. Dr. Boutroce stands as a living example of this mission in action, proof that mentorship, when rooted in love and integrity, can change the course of generations.
