Share How They Balance Faith, Family, and Business
Written by Shelly-Ann King + Photos by Mackinley Madhere and Maybeline Despagne
On Friday, November 12, 2021, after a difficult year of setbacks due to a global pandemic, Primary Medical Care Centers celebrated the grand openings of three new clinics. Located in Miramar, Palm Beach, and Pompano, the three new clinics join the Miami-Dade and Lauderdale Lakes community clinics to provide quality healthcare to the people who need it the most.
At the helm of Primary Medical Care Centers are its founders, Prinston and Edwige Jean-Glaude. The married couple opened their first Primary Medical Care Clinic in Miami-Dade in 2013. They were inspired to do so after taking their elderly parents for medical visits and being dissatisfied with the care they received.
The Primary Medical Care Centers model is to deliver excellent care to every patient and never place profit over patient health. They continue to work hard and are determined to expand the centers to any county or city where there are underserved people. However, as a faith-centered couple, they’re aware that it takes far more than hard work, determination, and discipline to succeed. Prinston and Edwige rely on their ever-present faith and unwavering trust in God, as it is He who makes it all happen.
All five community clinics specialize in family medicine. They accept patients 15 years and older, yet maintain a strong base of geriatric patients. The clinics are housed in modern, state-of-the-art facilities with on-site lab-testing, as well as transportation to and from medical appointments upon request. Patients are served by medical doctors and highly competent and friendly staff who manage non-life-threatening emergencies, prescription refills, specialist referrals, nutritional counseling, disease management, and education. They accept walk-ins, appointments, telehealth appointments, and even house calls upon request.
Primary Medical Care Center has been a labor of love, rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the same quality healthcare
For the Jean-Glaudes, who hail from the south-east part of Haiti, Aux Cayes, Port-Salut, operating the business has been a labor of love, driven by the belief that everyone deserves the same quality healthcare regardless of status. These values were planted early on in Haiti. Their families knew each other, and both had decent and hardworking backgrounds. It was no surprise that such like-minded people found success in love and as business partners.
The Jean-Glaudes are also the proud parents of two daughters, Priscilla, 18, and Emily, 14. ʺAlthough we have very busy schedules, our priorities are still the kids. We make sure we get home early every afternoon to spend time with them, check on their homework, pray with them. Later, we keep working at home,” says Edwige.
Despite their remarkably busy schedules, the Jean-Glaudes still find time for their faith and family. “We have tried to utilize whatever time we have together,” explains Prinston. “Whether it means bringing the kids to school, helping them with their homework, jogging together in the afternoon, and sometimes social events on weekends together, or going to church as a family.”
The Jean-Glaudes believe the true key to their success is their faith and trust in the Lord. They’re proud of the extraordinary care that they provide for their patients, and that that’s what makes Primary Medical Care Centers unique. They’re always there for their patients in their moments of need, whether it’s a wedding or funeral. Another crucial factor is the teaching they offer their patients to empower them to take better care of themselves. “And last but not least, our employees,” says Prinston. “We have a great staff working with us. They proudly care for and value our patients. They don’t go to bed until they ensure that all our patients are home safe from their appointments. We thank them for their unconditional love.”
“Starting a business is not easy and making it a success is even harder. However, with determination, integrity, faith, humility, and hard work, it is possible.”
To any young person interested in starting a business, the Jean-Glaudes’ advice is succinct: “Starting a business is not easy and making it a success is even harder. However, with determination, integrity, faith, humility, and hard work, it is possible. Start with a goal, gather positive and constructive feedback, and never give up.” This power couple proves that it is possible for two high-achieving people to work together in a successful business partnership without sacrificing their relationship and family life when they truly put their faith first.
Q &A
Haiti Open: Where were you born?
Prinston & Edwige: We are both from the Aux Cayes, Port-Salut – in the southeast part of Haiti
Haiti Open: What did you do when you got to the United States?
Prinston: Fortunately for us, our parents supported us when we first arrived. We were able to keep going to school. Education was our priority. I attended Miami Dade Community College, then FIU, and earned a master’s degree at Barry University.
Edwige: We came to the United States with our primary focus on education. We both went to Miami Dade Community College, then I went to Barry University.
Haiti Open: What brought Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Glaude together?
Prinston & Edwige: Both of our families knew each other in Haiti. We each knew that we came from similar family backgrounds of decent, hard-working people. Therefore, we decided to give a relationship a try while in college. This of course, led to marriage.
Haiti Open: You both have two beautiful daughters? What are their names, ages, and how is it like raising daughters in the Jean-Glaude household?
Prinston & Edwige: Priscilla Jean-Glaude, 18; and Emily Jean-Glaude, 14. Although we have remarkably busy schedules, our priorities are still the kids. We make sure we that we get home early every afternoon to spend time with them, check on their homework, pray with them, and later on, we keep working at home.
Haiti Open: I am sure you have very busy schedules. How do you make time for each other and the family?
Prinston & Edwige: We have tried to utilize whatever time we have together. Whether it is bringing them to school, helping them with their homework, jogging together in the afternoon, and sometimes social events on weekends, or going to church together.
Haiti Open: How did the idea for Primary Medical Care Center come about?
Prinston & Edwige: Primary Medical Care Center was established in 2013. Our love for our parents started it all. As we watched their struggle in search of better health care, the idea sprouted to create a healthcare center to serve our community.
Haiti Open: When you left Haiti, did you know you would get into the medical business?
Edwige: Not medical, but some kind of business. My mother was a small business owner in Haiti. I have witnessed how my mom worked so hard to achieve success. I was always driven to follow in her footsteps.
Haiti Open: Tell us about the owners of Primary Medical Care Center.
Prinston & Edwige: Prinston Jean-Glaude’s background is in information technology (IT) from FIU and Barry University; and Edwige Jean-Glaude is a nurse with a BSN from Barry University.
Haiti Open: What challenges did you face when starting Primary Medical Care Center?
Prinston & Edwige: Starting a business has its challenges. Our experiences from our other businesses helped in the process. However, planning the operation and executing the ideas required a lot of arduous work.
Haiti Open: How has the community received the Primary Medical Care Centers?
Prinston & Edwige: The response has been truly unbelievable. Because we always welcome our patients with a smile, and we treat them as family. In return, they have become our voice in the community. Without their support, we would not be at the point that we are at today. We are incredibly grateful for the support.
Haiti Open: On Nov. 12th, 2021, Primary expanded to Miramar, Pompano Beach and Palm Beach, what was the experience like to have three grand-openings in one day?
Prinston & Edwige: It was an extremely exciting day for us. Our goal has been to keep opening Primary Medical Care Centers in any city, county, or state where there are communities where the needs are great.
Haiti Open: Five clinics within 8 years (2013-2021), what’s driving Primary’s success?
Prinston & Edwige: We have seen the needs for primary care in our underserved communities and how our parents struggled with uncaring healthcare providers and have received disparate treatment. We have been inspired and motivated to work harder each and every day to provide the quality healthcare our community truly deserves. We also know that even hard work, determination, and discipline, are not enough to succeed. We believe the key to our success is having faith and trust in the Lord. God makes it all happen at the end of the day.
Haiti Open: What makes Primary Medical Care Center different from its competitors?
Prinston & Edwige: It is the extraordinary care we provide for our patients that makes us unique. We are always there for them in moments of need, whether it is a happy occasion, like a wedding, or an unfortunate event, like a funeral.
Another crucial factor is the teaching that we provide for our patients, to empower them to take better care of themselves.
And last but not least, our employees. We have a great staff working with us. They proudly care for and value our patients. They don’t go to bed until they ensure that all our patients are safely home from their appointments. We thank them for their unconditional love.
Haiti Open: What advice would you give to a young person who is trying to start their own business?
Prinston & Edwige: Starting a business is not easy and making it a success is even harder. However, with determination, integrity, faith, humility, and hard work, it is possible. Start with a goal, gather positive and constructive feedback, and never give up.
Haiti Open: Primary donated to the Grand Sud Earthquake relief efforts. What prompted you to donate such a sum?
Prinston & Edwige: We have seen the struggle of our own people post-earthquake; it could have been one of us there. We believe it is a social responsibility to help those in need.
Haiti Open: In the next 8-10 years, where do you see Primary Medical Care Center?
Prinston & Edwige: We would love to continue expanding primary Medical Care Centers to different counties and cities where there are underserved communities.
Haiti Open: Are you planning to start any other business or involved in any other endeavors?
Prinston & Edwige: There is a possibility, but not now.
Haiti Open: What are your hobbies?
Prinston & Edwige: Jogging as a family, reading books, golfing, watching television, and spending time with family and friends.
