Dr. Henri Ford, M.D. is an internationally renowned physician scientist, pediatric surgeon, dean and Chief Academic Officer of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Since joining the Miller School in 2018, as the first Haitian-American dean of a U.S. medical school, Dr. Ford has focused on developing the next generation of transformational leaders who will shape the future of medicine.
Legacy had the privilege of interviewing Ford, one of its Top Black Healthcare Professionals of 2025. Learn more about this distinguished healthcare leader in
the following Q&A:
Q. Tell us about your personal background (cultural heritage, hometown, lessons learned from your personal story).
A. I was born in Haiti. My father was a preacher and my mother was a “prayer warrior.” They instilled in me and my eight siblings three key principles: 1) faith in God; 2) the value of education; and 3) service to others. My father also taught me, at an early age, that there is no satisfactory substitute for excellence. These have been the guiding principles of my life.
We moved to Brooklyn just as I was turning 14, in time for high school. Even though I did not speak English, I knew I had to excel. This forced me to assimilate very quickly and master the English language. I earned a full tuition scholarship to attend Princeton University. There, I met some great role models and mentors who inspired me and made me believe that I, too, could excel at Princeton. After Princeton, I attended Harvard Medical School where I discovered my passion for surgery, and particularly, pediatric surgery. I chose to pursue academic surgery because there weren’t too many people who looked like I do at Princeton, Harvard, or Cornell, where I did my residency in general surgery. Therefore, it was important for me to become a professor to inspire learners who came from similar backgrounds.
Q. What was your trajectory to get to the position you’re in now?
A. I was fortunate to succeed as an academic pediatric surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh and the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. I quickly rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Pediatric Surgery and helped it become one of the elite programs in the country within just four years. As a result, I was recruited to become vice-president and chief of surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and professor and vice-chair of surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. Two years later, I became vice-dean for Medical Education.
Teaching and mentoring have always been part of my DNA, and after 13 fulfilling years at USC and CHLA, I was recruited to become dean and Chief Academic Officer of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. I was drawn to the University of Miami because I witnessed its unwavering commitment to the people of Haiti following the catastrophic earthquake in 2010. The university’s rapid and sustained response to help alleviate the suffering and misery of the Haitian people was nothing short of extraordinary. Therefore, I thought it would be a privilege to give back to this noble institution by helping usher the Miller School of Medicine into the pantheon of research-focused medical school.
Q. Are there unique challenges to being in such a high level of leadership as a Black professional?
A. Black professionals face many unique challenges. Perhaps, one of the most perplexing is that despite my stellar credentials and outstanding track record of accomplishments, there are some individuals who still question my legitimacy. Nonetheless, I am reminded of my father’s teaching that there is no satisfactory substitute for excellence. That is my guiding principle. I am also reminded of the admonition of my surgical hero, the late Dr. Charles Drew, former chair of surgery at Howard University. To paraphrase him, excellence in performance will overcome artificial barriers created by men.
Q. What do you think is the most impactful advice for Black professionals seeking a career in the healthcare field?
A. There is no satisfactory substitute for excellence. You must never waver from this guiding principle.
Q. What is the future of health care in South Florida, especially communities of color?
A. I believe that all the communities of South Florida will benefit from the exciting innovations, such as precision medicine, that are taking place in the medical profession. The overarching priority is to ensure that all communities have access to the state of the science care that is available at the University of Miami Health System and its affiliated hospitals. That is the only way to promote and achieve health equity in South Florida.
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