In the field of medicine there exists a long tradition of service to humanity. Few families embody this tradition like the DeGennaro family. The family patriarch, Dr. Vincent DeGennaro, M.D., is one of the most respected physicians and humanitarians in South Florida. A former president of the Florida Medical Association, he is a recipient of the organization’s Harold F. Stasser Good Samaritan Award and also the University of Miami Department of Surgery Humanitarian Award. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff of the Miami VA Healthcare System, which cares for veterans and their families across three South Florida counties. His wife, Gerri, holds a B.A. in Biology and Medical Technology and dedicates her time volunteering for America’s Moms for Soldiers and fundraising for various medical causes.The DeGennaros have four children. Robert is an elementary school teacher in West Palm Beach and Steven is a filmmaker with a Ph.D. in astronomy who resides in Austin, TX. Their two other children, Vincent Jr. and Kristen Trinca, followed in their parents’ footsteps with careers in medicine. Daughter, Kristen DeGennaro Trinca, M.D., is a Navy surgeon who is currently attending at the Naval Hospital in Guam. Son, Vincent DeGennaro, Jr, M.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida and the Director of Internal Medicine for Project Medishare in Haiti. He spends part of his time in Gainesville and part of his time in Port-au-Prince.
When it comes to serving the people of Haiti, it’s a family affair for the DeGennaros. The family’s connection to Haiti began in 2004 when Dr. DeGennaro, Sr. and his two children, Vincent Jr and Kristen, both medical students at the time, traveled to Haiti on a medical mission with Project Medishare. Dr. DeGennaro, Sr. and wife Gerri have since traveled back to Haiti several times a year for general and plastic surgery mission trips. Dr. DeGennaro, Sr. later formalized the plastic surgery program with Seth Thaller, M.D., chair of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Miami. Their program has supervised medical students on numerous missions and has been instrumental in surgical treatment of hundreds of Haitian children.Project Medishare provides a meaningful outlet for the humanitarian spirit of this very accomplished Floridian family. Since 1994 Project Medishare has served the people of Haiti with a varied array of health care services and programs. Among these programs, Project Medishare operates a critical care and trauma hospital in Port-au-Prince and serves as a primary health care provider to over 150,000 people in the rural central plateau. Should one elect to volunteer with Project Medishare, it would come as no surprise to find Dr. DeGennaro, Sr. working in the operating room, Dr. DeGennaro, Jr. conducting cancer training with Haitian clinicians, and Mrs. DeGennaro covering logistics and organizing surgical supplies.
Dr. DeGennaro, Sr. serves on the Board of Directors of Project Medishare and Dr. DeGennaro, Jr. works as the organization’s Director of Internal Medicine in Port-au-Prince. Not only does the DeGennaro family serve through their time and their deeds, they also serve with their dollars. The family has funded many missions to Haiti and passionately fundraises for numerous efforts supported by Project Medishare. Partnering with Project Medishare has not only proven to be a successful endeavor for the family and Project Medishare; the efforts of this partnership have been of great benefit to the people of Haiti.
Most recently, Project Medishare partnered with the Haitian Ministry of Health to launch the Haitian Women’s Cancer Program. As Program Director, Dr. DeGennaro, Jr. helms the program which seeks to cover diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy for Haitian women with cancer. Breast and cervical cancer are the leading causes of cancer deaths in Haiti. Diagnosis and treatment have been previously neglected and has been deemed too expensive and complicated for such a poor country. Since opening its doors last year, the program has treated over 250 patients and has launched a national cancer training program for Haitian clinicians. With the support of the DeGennaro family, Project Medishare has raised nearly $250,000 for the Haitian Women’s Cancer Program. Thanks to generous donors, cancer patients are cared for from diagnosis through surgical and chemotherapy interventions for $1,500 per patient.
