Marc Julmisse

Marc Julmisse is a Haitian-American global health leader and nursing executive recognized for her work in delivering quality care in challenging environments. Julmisse began her nursing career as a licensed practical nurse and earned her ASN and BSN from Atlantic Union College in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as a master's in public health with a specialization in disaster management and program planning from Loma Linda University in California.

Julmisse has volunteered for several nonprofits, providing clinical care and community training in countries such as Nepal, Ecuador, India, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, with a focus on community capacity building. She has more than 15 years of experience in the nursing profession, serving as a staff registered nurse in medical-surgical, neonatal intensive care, emergency room, and intensive care units; a visiting nurse in the foster care system for medically fragile children; a community health nurse; and a nurse educator. Prior to joining Zanmi Lasante, Julmisse served as the medical education program coordinator and chief of party for Adventist Health International-Haiti. She alternated between nursing roles in the United States and international work in rural communities before becoming involved in health care in Haiti, where she conducted a hospital assessment for a facility outside the Partners in Health network.

At Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais, Julmisse advanced to deputy chief operations officer, providing strategic clinical, financial, and operational leadership across all Zanmi Lasante-supported facilities. She was promoted from chief nursing officer, where she developed global nursing strategy to strengthen and advance nursing and midwifery across care delivery sites. As chief nursing officer, Julmisse held a position on par with the chief medical officer, advocating for the role of nurses as patient advocates and contributors to improved patient care. Her academic research includes co-authoring work published in International Nursing Review on strengthening healthcare delivery in Haiti through nursing continuing education.

Julmisse served as interim executive director of Zanmi Lasante, the sister organization to Partners in Health in Haiti. In this capacity, she led teams at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais and five other Zanmi Lasante-supported clinics, providing cholera care and opening new treatment sites in collaboration with medical and health care organizations throughout Haiti. When the hospital was targeted in an armed gang attack, Julmisse publicly condemned the incident as a breach of medical neutrality protected by International Humanitarian Law and affirmed the commitment of Zanmi Lasante staff to providing lifesaving care. She also led the organization's earthquake response team, developing strategies to address patient and partner needs.

Following her tenure as interim executive director, Julmisse served as chief of clinical systems support for Partners in Health. Throughout her career, she has participated in global health discussions on topics such as the impact of Zanmi Lasante in Haiti and the importance of health care access. Julmisse has also been a featured speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival, addressing audiences on global health equity, nursing leadership, and resilient health systems in resource-limited settings.