Primary Job Title Founder Primary Organization 
Haiti Innovation
Location District of Columbia, United States, North America Regions Southern US Gender Male Also Known As Bryan J. Schaaf
Website bryanschaaf.com Facebook View on Facebook LinkedIn View on LinkedIn X (Twitter) View on X
Bryan Schaaf has over a decade of experience in humanitarian assistance. He first became involved in crisis intervention domestically when he worked night shifts at a crisis hotline and eventually became a trainer for incoming groups of volunteers. He went on to become a survivor advocate, working with clients to help them access medical and
legal services.
Bryan later served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Haiti, which inspired him to focus his efforts on promoting public health, particularly for vulnerable populations. He has stayed involved with Haiti through a number of different organizations, including by co-founding a blog/consultancy devoted to raising awareness about development issues in Haiti and providing no-cost technical assistance to local and international organizations operating there. He also co-founded Peace Corps Friends of Haiti in order to mobilize the expertise of returned Peace Corps Volunteers.
Through the Peace Corps, Bryan was exposed to living conditions in which some 50,000 Haitian residents were left without a trained healthcare worker to service their needs. With the help of community members and various groups in the region, such as the Haitian Ministry of Health, an old clinic was rehabilitated to fill this void. A multitude of services were established within this clinic, such as access to HIV/AIDS programs, TB testing, and ambulance services. Understanding the importance of health education, technology, and communication, Bryan also began teaching computer literacy and English courses in the community to help strengthen the health care relations within the area.
Bryan Schaaf currently focuses on his ongoing work in international affairs. Previously, he has worked at the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United States Agency for International Development. He has just finished his tenure as President of the Dupont Circle Rotary Club.
