ABOUT US
Our History
Since 2010, African Mission Healthcare has partnered with mission hospitals to improve access to quality healthcare across sub-Saharan Africa.
Born out of Friendship and Crisis
After completing internal medicine training at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2002, Dr. Jon Fielder, motivated by his Christian faith, moved to Kenya to care for HIV-infected patients. Supported by his college roommate Mark Gerson, Dr. Fielder and the team at Kijabe Hospital provided treatment, trained healthcare workers, and expanded clinics. Later, they continued the partnership when Dr. Fielder moved to Malawi to serve at Partners in Hope Medical Center.
Jon and Mark recognized that mission hospitals provide at least one-third of the quality medical care and education on the continent, but the traditional sources of support from churches and mission agencies were diminishing. Without access to funding, these institutions were struggling to meet the needs of their communities.
Along with others, they started African Mission Healthcare in 2010 to help mission health centers care for the poor, upgrade equipment, and train African health workers.
Led by Jon and Mark’s unmatched commitment to this work, we continue to expand our reach and impact. Since it began, African Mission Healthcare has invested more than $66,000,000 in training, clinical care, and infrastructure projects with more than 47 mission hospital partners in 17 countries. These investments have supported direct care for more than 1,200,000 patients and will enable more than 16,000,000 future patient visits.
Our Founders
Dr. Jon Fielder
Dr. Fielder has served as a medical missionary in Africa since 2002. A graduate of Williams College and the Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Fielder completed his training at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Jon has worked at mission hospitals in Kenya and Malawi. His areas of clinical specialization include HIV and tuberculosis. Jon is African Mission Healthcare’s Chief Executive and is a consultant physician at Maua Methodist Hospital. He lives with his wife and family in Kijabe, Kenya.
Mark Gerson
Mark is an entrepreneur, author, and committed philanthropist. He is a graduate of Williams College and Yale Law School. Inspired by his Jewish faith "to love the stranger," Mark has partnered with his college friend and co-founder Dr. Jon Fielder to provide medical care in Africa since 2002. Along with his wife, Rabbi Erica Gerson, also an African Mission Healthcare board member, he launched the L'Chaim (To Life) Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Mission Service, the largest single award for providing clinical care on the continent.