Johns Hopkins Responds Hurricane Katrina September 2005

Message to the School of Nursing

September 8, 2005

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students:

Though the School has been very busy with the orientation of new students and grieving the loss of a very dear colleague this week, I wanted to assure you that the Hurricane Katrina victims have not been far from our minds.

The Admissions Office has received a few inquiries from students who have been displaced by the storm and is making assessments as to their needs. Dr. Marguerite Kearney, JHU SON Associate Professor participated as part of a CEPAR team and returned to the School yesterday. Dr. Kearney is a Captain in the Navy Nurse Corps (Reserve Component) and designed the SON "Health Systems Management: Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Response" program. Other faculty and staff will be traveling to the Gulf Coast region as part of this same Hopkins response team as soon as a deployment date is set. Faculty wishing to become involved in the Johns Hopkins relief effort should submit a plan for SON course coverage to Dean Anne Belcher's administrative office. Staff who would like to participate should speak with supervisors.

Students from the School of Nursing, Medicine, Public Health and other JHMI affiliates are holding an event for the Hurricane Relief effort at the Red Maple tonight from 7-10pm. Fifty percent of all drink sales will go directly to the American Red Cross Katrina Disaster Relief Fund. From 10-11 pm, 100% of the $5 cover charge goes to Katrina Relief. The event is co-sponsored by the School of Nursing's Student Government Association, Bloomberg School of Public Health's Anna Baetjer Society, and the School of Medicine's Interaction. For directions and more information, call 410-547-0149.

On Monday, September 12th, School of Nursing student organizations will launch a Beads for Hope effort in the lobby in the mornings, at lunch, and in the evenings. Mardi Gras beads will be sold for a minimum of $1 with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross Katrina Disaster Relief Fund. This event will last until all beads are sold.

I am very proud of our School's response to this most recent tragedy. Updates in the School's efforts will continue to be broadcast in The Daily SON. Please look for new ways to help.

Martha N. Hill
Dean