There is a Haitian-American doctor, Dr. David J. Malebranche, you have probably seen him on CNN and BET.

The other day I received an email from Merritt G. Claude, one of my newsletter subscribers, regarding Dr. David J. Malebranche and his recent appearance on CNN Newsroom with Don Lemon.

Surprise Update: His father, Dr Roger Malbranche, already replied to this article.  Read his reply here.

In the email, Merrit said:

"A certain Dr. David Malebranche was on CNN at 11:30PM tonight speaking about the spread of AIDS in the Black community and within America as a whole. He was very well spoken, obviously knowledgeable and might be a Haitian American."

I was able to get in touch with Dr. Malebranche (don't ask me how) and confirm Merrit's assumption.

Here is my email to Dr. David J. Malebranche:

How are you?

My name is Woodring Saint Preux and I currently publish a Haitian-American Newsletter on the Internet.

I received the following message from one of my readers: "A certain Dr. David Malebranche was on CNN at 11:30PM tonight speaking about the spread of  AIDS in the Black community and within America as a whole. He was very well spoken, obviously knowledgeable and might be a Haitian American."

I wanted to share the information with my list, assuming of course that she is right and you are Haitian American.

I would love to know if you are Haitian American

Sincerely, Woodring Saint Preux

Dr, David J. Malebranche was very courteous and replied to me almost instantly... I love people who check their email regularly!

Here is Dr. Malbranche's reply:

Woodring,

Nice to hear from you, yes I am a 1st generation Haitian-American.  My father was born in Anse-a-Veau and came to the states in the 1960s. My mother is European-American, and unfortunately, I didn't learn Kreyol as a child growing up as she didn't know the language and my father was working hard in NY to provide for us.

I was on CNN the other night, and yes, I would be honored and very happy if you shared my information with the list!

My father is a retired surgeon and is still living in NY with my mother. What a small world, I was asked to do the panel at the last minute (Friday night) but I did it.

I am a physician here and do a lot of work with HIV/AIDS, both research and clinical.

Hope this letter finds you well...

Dr. David J. Malebranche, M.D., M.P.H.

There you have it... You inquiring minds of the Haitian community!

I did a little bit more research about Dr. David J. Malebranche to find out what else he is up to...

All I can say is: "Dr. Phil watch out! There is a new Doctor in town."

They say it is impolite for someone to brag about oneself. Haitians call it "Fe Djole", I call it a "Self-Omercial."

The good doctor did not brag in his email... But I will...!

Hope you don't mind... :)

First: What is the link between Dr. David Malebranche and CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta?

If you watch CNN then you know who Dr. Sanjay Gupta is. If you don't, let me tell you.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is an American neurosurgeon and  a CNN medical correspondent who was reportedly offered the position of surgeon general by President Barack Obama last month, an offer which he accepted.

Guess what Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Haitian-American Dr. David J. Malebranche have something in common; they are both assistant professors in Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta Georgia, ranked among the nation's finest institutions for biomedical education.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and Dr. David J. Malebranche is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Emory University's School of Medicine.

Ki sa? Se pa vre! 

Wi... Se vre! but there's more...

Second:  Dr. Malbranche's work has been featured in many popular media that you may know.

Here are some highlights from an article posted on minority.unc.edu:

Dr. Malebranche's work has been featured in medical and public health journals such as

• The Annals of Internal Medicine,
• The American Journal of Public Health,
• Health Affairs,
• Academic Medicine, and
• the Journal of the National Medical Association.

Dr. Malebranche is known as a dynamic speaker nationwide and has been featured for his expertise on HIV in the Black community in documentaries on the following television networks:

• CNN,
• ABC News Primetime, and
• Black Entertainment Television (BET)

Dr. Malebranche has also been recognized in the Black same gender-loving community with an award from Clik Magazine in politics/health and the Community Service Award from Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD), a community-based organization in New York City.

Dr. Malebranche recently completed a project with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) exploring the social factors influencing the HIV testing practices and sexual risk behaviors of Black MSM (Black men and men who have sex with men).

In July 2006, Dr. Malebranche was appointed to the President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)

Ki sa? Se pa vre!

Wi... Se vre! but there's more...

I have one request for the Obama Administration:

Please make sure Dr. Sanjay Gupta becomes the next Surgeon General of the United States because, just like Haitian-American Senator Kwame Raoul replaced President Obama in Chicago, I know somebody who can replace Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN, he is Haitian American and his name is Dr. David J. Malebranche.

I am writing this article and I am reminded of this old Haiti Kanaval song that says:

"N-ap pike... pi devan... paske mashinn nou an fom...sa-k pa gen... bon mote... antre nan garaj!..."

I don't know why but you'll figure it out :)

My name is Woodring Saint Preux and I said it.