From Gaza to Haiti: A Psychologist on the Frontlines with Médecins Sans Frontières

Wednesday, April 1st, 2026, 4:30 PM

Seigle Hall 109

Nicholas Tessier is a clinical and forensic psychologist who has spent over seven years on the frontlines of the world's most severe humanitarian crises with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), working in Yemen, Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Haiti. As MSF's current Head of Mission in Haiti, he leads humanitarian medical operations amid a devastating crisis where sexual and gender-based violence has surged dramatically in recent years, driven by armed group activity and widespread displacement. His work bridges the fields of psychology, public health, and human rights – offering a ground-level perspective on what it means to deliver care in environments where systems have collapsed and the most vulnerable bear the greatest cost.

Made possible by a grant from the French in Higher Education program (cultural services of the French embassy in the United States).