Volume 1
WHAT’Snew
Number 13
September 21, 2012
Pennsylvania Hospital
Helping
Haiti Heal
`` From left to right: Amiee Vincent (team captain), Carolyn Tobin, Rhoda Sulzbach, Gabrielle Mariotti, Patty Inacker, Ginadelle Augustine (Haiti Translator)
“ Our purpose was to aid The Haiti Family Initiative in their efforts to help get the people of their country back on their feet.” — Patty Inacker, LCSW, MBA
Inside Construction Update........................2 Wrangle Your References.............2 PAH Welcomes Physicians...........3 Cultural Diversity Conference......3 National Preparedness Month.....4 Get Wellfocused.............................5 Infant Remembrance Day.............5 Bye-Bye Paper Stubs.....................5 What’s Happening..........................6 2012 Philly Heart Walk...................6
From July 21 to August 11,
Pennsylvania Hospital partnered with The Haiti Family Initiative (HFI) — an all-volunteer, Delaware-based humanitarian group — to provide and promote a holistic approach to health, education, and improve the welfare of families in Jacmel, Haiti. The people of Jacmel have endured the loss of their homes, schools, and of course — many loved ones — due to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake of January 2010. The quake left more than a million homeless throughout Haiti, many with lasting injuries. Today, over 5,500 people in Jacmel alone are still living in sub-human conditions in filthy and unsafe tent cities. Over the past three years HFI has facilitated a five week long wellness camp to help the most vulnerable overcome the trauma they have endured and to promote the psychosocial well being of the families in the earthquake-shattered nation. After interest in volunteering for the camp was initiated by Melissa Miller, MSW, in Clinical Resource Management and Social Work, PAH joined the effort this summer by sponsoring ten employees from a wide range of disciplines to travel to Jacmel and volunteer. “Our purpose was to aid The Haiti Family Initiative in their efforts to help get the people of their country back on their feet,” said Patty
Inacker, LCSW, MBA, director of Clinical Services, Department of Psychiatry/Hall Mercer. “The summer camps teaches impoverished and uneducated women how to better care for themselves and their families and develop skills that will make them self-sufficient.” The camp was staffed by approximately 25 volunteers each day who managed to care for over 240 Haitians, including children. Three teams of compassionate and committed PAH volunteers traveled in shifts to Jacmel to assist with managing the children’s camp, women’s wellness programs, and medical clinic. The volunteers helped feed about a hundred children a day and offered an array of educational, recreational and arts and crafts activities. “At the small medical clinic stocked with donated supplies and medications approximately 100 people with varying illnesses and ailments were treated daily — many of whom had never before seen a medical provider,” said Rhoda Sulzbach, MSN, CRNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, clinical director, Advanced Practice Providers. The women’s wellness program provided health education, self empowerment groups and psychosocial support to over 60 women, some having traveled over two hours from the nearby mountain community. Many of the Haitians treated
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