Where Are They Now? 

A Q&A with Eddie Tschan

"The Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement remains an impressive humanitarian movement that is so committed and active after more than a century since Henry Dunant expressed his vision of global human action under the seven guiding principles. It’s a privilege to have been part of this vision!"

Eddie Tschan (right) with work in Haiti Delmas Area Reconstruction efforts by IFRC team 

Eduard (Eddie) Tschan held many positions with the American Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC). Among them were senior program director of International Services at Red Cross where he was also the head of the Measles and Rubella Initiative which provided millions of children free measle vaccinations in Africa. At the IFRC he was senior representative for the Movement and head of IFRC in the Haiti Earthquake response, and he was deputy director for the Middle East in Amman, Jordan.  

Eddie Tschan with Sean Penn in Haiti with IFRC 

Eddie is currently working for the International Medical Corps (IMC) in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Q. What are you working on now with IMC?

A. Developing a new longer term program portfolio for the IMC for Ukraine. It will build on IMC’s humanitarian work there, which started after the Russian invasion three years ago. IMC has provided health care, mental health, winterization, gender-based violence prevention and services and other support to hundreds of thousands of people mostly on the frontlines of the war in eastern Ukraine. 

Q. What were your favorite programs you've worked on? 

A. All programs that entailed primary health care. Red Cross/Red Crescent has saved hundreds of thousands of lives overseas by championing cost effective primary health care, mostly for women and children. American Red Cross was and is a lead partner within the movement. It can be very proud of the global achievements it has spearheaded. 

Q. What’s a favorite job/project you have worked on since leaving the Red Cross, and what purpose did it serve? 

A. Humanitarian advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Tsunami Response for President Clinton, and country director for the IMC in Beirut, Lebanon for 8 years where we provided 4 million consultations in health care for Syrian refugees and low-income Lebanese. 

Q. Where were you born and where do you call home now?

A. Good question! I was born in Zurich, Switzerland but lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years (11 years at American Red Cross) with two beautiful children born out of my first marriage. My son Alexander is working as a surgeon in Annapolis and my daughter Nasreen is working as a lawyer in Boston. Currently I am sharing my time between Lucerne, Switzerland to take care of my ageing parents a bit, Brussels as IMC representative to the European Union and Kiev, Ukraine. 

Q. Are you still involved in Red Cross, if so, how? 

A. I come across the Red Cross quite a bit in my work and for example IMC supported the Lebanese Red Cross primary health care centers over the years. I stay in touch a bit with old friends and like to read the news provided by the American Red Cross Alumni Network and the IFRC Alumni Association. All a little distant though these days. The memories of some of my best and most challenging professional years are however still present. 

The Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement remains an impressive humanitarian movement that is so committed and active after more than a century since Henry Dunant expressed his vision of global human action under the seven guiding principles. It’s a privilege to have been part of this vision!