Experienced UMVIM Team Leader and pioneer Dr. Hal Crosswell passed away at the age of 91, in Columbia, South Carolina, on Friday, April 17, 2026. Dr. Crosswell was a consistent advocate for the people of Haiti and led numerous UMVIM teams there during his life. Working as the Caribbean Coordinator for Medical and Ophthalmological Services for over fifty years, he led medical mission teams that brought the gift of sight to many patients of an eye clinic that he helped found in Jeremie, Haiti during 1974 and beyond. A faithful member of Shandon United Methodist Church since 1948, each Christmas he would collect Advent offerings for this cause and told numerous stories to his church congregation of patients whose lives were changed by the clinics in Haiti. His compassion for the Haitian people and hard work in providing them with eye care was recognized with the Michael C. Watson Award from UMVIM in 2001 and was chronicled in the publication of his book, Eyes for Haiti, in 2024.
UMVIM is proud to celebrate Dr. Crosswell’s work and his compassion which changed many, many, lives.
Click here to read his full obituary.
