Yolaine A Civil, MD

Biographical Statement

After completion of medical school at Wayne State University and Pediatric residency at the University of Michigan, I realized that I had a passion for working in diverse, underserved communities. This led to my first position as a pediatrician working on the south side of Chicago and later in public health at the Mobile County Health Department of Mobile, Alabama through the National Health Service Corp. After working in the ambulatory clinical setting for many years, I pursued a position with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

My career focus changed after a transformative experience volunteering in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010. I completed 4 successful missions with MSF in west and central Africa. Upon my return to the US, I completed a second residency in Preventive Medicine and obtained a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan. These experiences ultimately led me to Henry Ford Hospital where I can combine my love for pediatrics with my skills in clinical research to help serve the Detroit community.

Care Philosophy

My goal is to provide quality health care for children from birth through their transition to young adulthood at 18 years old. As a primary care pediatrician, I am committed to all aspects of preventive health care by focusing on children’s nutrition, exercise, and emotional well-being. Additionally, as a public health scholar, I am actively involved in programs promoting childhood vaccinations, and community outreach to address health disparities for underserved communities.

Research Interests

My work with Doctors Without Borders in central Africa, inspired my interests in global health research and maternal infant health. I developed a clinical research project in Kumasi, Ghana entitled, “Evaluation of Continuity of Care Program for premature and low birth weight infants in Sub-Saharan Africa,” which created and evaluated a sustainable system for outpatient clinical management of premature and low birth weight infants beyond the immediate neonatal period. In 2018, I was awarded a Flexible Fulbright Scholar Award that provided me with the opportunity to advance my research project in Ghana by allowing me to have a more in-depth experience with the community. Since returning from Ghana, I have continued to focus my efforts on issues related to maternal child health here in the Detroit community.