The photo on the screen of Joseph, a young Haitian man, shows a man of skin and bones.

Someone could count each rib that protruded from his chest and trace the outline of his pelvic bone. He had HIV/AIDS that was untreated.

"His family was resigned to his death," Dr. David Walton said. "He was bed-bound, and outside they started building his coffin."

The disease is the leading cause of death in Haiti, on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Walton shared Joseph's story and that of other Haitians he has treated at a presentation at the University of Mary McDowell Activity Center on Thursday.

Walton was a research assistant under Dr. Paul Farmer, who is the subject of the university book discussion "Mountains Beyond Mountains." Walton spends part of his time working in Haiti and the other part of his time working in Boston.

His work in Haiti is to make health care accessible to everyone, regardless of income. He works at a free clinic, where residents in the rural part of the country walk or ride a donkey for many miles to get to the clinic.

Walton diagnosed Joseph, and started him on treatment. Six months later, he looked like a lean, muscular man. There are other diseases that affect the residents of Haiti that also are treatable, if medication were available.

A picture of two young women appeared on the projection screens on the gym floor. There faces were swollen and puffy.

"A doctor who works in Haiti would instantly recognize what they have," Walton said. "This is anthrax, not the anthrax of terrorism, but real anthrax that lives on the hides of livestock."

Many rural inhabitants are peasant farmers and come in close contact with livestock. It's treatable with cheap penicillin, he said, although not everyone can afford the antibiotic.

He and other members of Partners in Health, which includes co-founder Paul Farmer, go to countries like Haiti to improve healthcare. The focus of Partners in Health is on HIV/AIDS treatment, tuberculosis treatments, women and children health.

Some University of Mary students will be going to Haiti and Belize this spring to work with orphanages and plant trees. The trip to Haiti was limited to 10 students because the country could not accommodate a larger group after it was hit by four hurricanes earlier this year. At least another 20 students will go to Belize.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)