BEVERLY, MA – The Build Health International (BHI) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Omar Hernandez as Executive Director, succeeding co-founder and Managing Director Jim Ansara. Effective September 1, 2026, Omar will assume leadership of the organization at a pivotal time, as the team builds on more than a decade of growth and impact across resource-constrained settings as a trusted healthcare infrastructure partner.
Omar (middle, in yellow shirt) at the site of BHI’s first project, the construction of the university hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti.
Omar brings technical expertise, operational leadership, and a longstanding commitment to BHI’s mission. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, he joined BHI during the construction of the Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais in Haiti, the national solar powered teaching hospital that inspired BHI’s founding. Over the past several years, he has helped lead the engineering and construction teams while taking on increasing responsibility for organizational operations, finance, and strategy. Currently serving as Chief Operating Officer, Omar has played a central role in advancing BHI’s global work. His leadership reflects an understanding of the organization’s technical excellence and a belief that every person deserves access to dignified, high-quality healthcare infrastructure.
Jim Ansara co-founded Build Health International following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, helping transform an ambitious effort to build a world-class teaching hospital in Haiti into a global nonprofit organization. Since its founding BHI has designed, built, and equipped more than 250 of healthcare projects across nearly 70 countries while strengthening healthcare infrastructure, medical oxygen systems, renewable energy, and workforce development. Most recently, the team designed and built a new Maternal Center of Excellence in Sierra Leone. Jim’s vision established BHI’s reputation for delivering high-quality, sustainable healthcare infrastructure in some of the world’s most challenging environments and laid the foundation for the organization’s continued growth and impact. Jim will continue to support the organization in an advisory capacity.
Omar (right) pictured with BHI’s co-founder Jim Ansara (middle) and BHI architect Allison Adamson (left) at its office in Beverly, MA.
As BHI enters its next chapter, the organization remains focused on resilient healthcare infrastructure, strengthening local technical capacity, and advancing sustainable solutions to support health systems across resource-constrained settings around the world. Building on its foundation, BHI will continue to partner with governments, partners, and local communities to increase access to dignified, affordable and high-quality infrastructure that advances global health equity.
Patricia Maguire Meservey, Chair of the BHI Board noted, “Along with the Build Health International Board, I could not be more enthusiastic to select Omar to lead our organization. He brings passion for our mission, an inspiring vision for our future, and a depth of knowledge and experience that will anchor our work to elevate the quality and accessibility of healthcare worldwide.”
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About Build Health International
Build Health International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to dignified, affordable, and high-quality healthcare through the design, construction, and strengthening of healthcare infrastructure in resource-constrained settings around the world. Since its founding, BHI has partnered with governments, healthcare providers, and community organizations to deliver healthcare facilities, medical oxygen systems, renewable energy solutions, and workforce training programs that strengthen health systems and improve lives. Working across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond, BHI combines technical expertise with local partnership to help build the foundation for global health equity.