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UMB Katrina Emergency Response
ENABLE Team Returns from Baton Rouge
Four members of the ENABLE Community Health Worker Program returned to Maryland after spending two weeks working in Baton Rouge, La., communities hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.
Based in the School of Pharmacy, the ENABLE Community Health Worker Program was created by School of Pharmacy Professor Donald Fedder, BSP, DrPH, to improve the quality of life in impoverished communities.
Vicki Jones, Natasha Drew, Elmer Johnson, and Paulette Williams left their families on Oct. 17 to volunteer through the American Red Cross. They were assigned to work under the organization’s Damage Assessment Department, surveying homes damaged in the hurricane.
The team ventured out from the Red Cross headquarters into diverse communities, visiting with people whose lives had been turned upside down by the storm.
What they found was a “storm within a storm,” said Williams, coordinator of the Community Health Worker Program. “Many people were experiencing all sorts of problems and were in need of more than what the Red Cross could provide.”
Many of the homes the team visited were infested with mold. One house, inhabited by a woman and her five children, had its roof ripped off and was without running water.
Another woman actually fell—gripped by what seemed like a seizure—into Johnson’s arms as she opened her front door. The woman, a diabetic with hypertension, was sent to the hospital, where she was found to have seriously high glucose levels.
"If we had made one wrong turnoff," said Williams. "I don't know what would have happened (to the woman)."
In some cases, listening to people’s stories was enough.
"We couldn’t take houses, cars, or money," said Jones. "But we had a ministry to listen to their stories and give encouragement. All they really wanted was to be listened to."
All four ENABLE members say they went to Louisiana for different reasons.
For Williams, a social worker, it was the “ultimate social work thing to do.” For Jones, it was the “ministry to listen.” For Johnson, it was a simple equation: “A, who helps B, helps A the most.” Drew simply “wanted to help.”
All of them said they will never forget the experience.
Posted Nov. 11, 2005
Governor Honors Katrina Relief Workers
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene Anthony McCann were joined by University of Maryland, Baltimore President David J. Ramsay at a Nov. 8 reception honoring members of the Maryland Professional Volunteer Corps, MIEMSS, and the University who provided relief, hope, and comfort to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Posted Nov. 11, 2005
Forensic Dentist Called to Help Post-Katrina
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| Dr. Tewes briefs Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff on DMORT operations |
No matter where he is-Pennsylvania, Mississippi, or more recently, Louisiana-Warren Tewes, DDS, a clinical assistant professor in the Dental School, eats his lunch in the office.
"I stay in to keep the paper moving," says the forensic dentist.
That paper-filled with descriptions of everything from a person's tattoo down to his or her blood-type-is a crucial part of the process that Tewes follows to identify the remains of people killed in disasters and return their bodies to loved ones.
Tewes is a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT), a federal program directed by the National Disaster Medical System. In incidences of mass casualties, the program deploys teams of volunteer medical, forensic, and mortuary professionals to recover and identify victims and prepare them for burial.
Tewes was called by DMORT to the Shanksville, Pa., crash site of United Flight 93, which went down during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
More recently, he spent this past September in the Hurricane Katrina-devastated Mississippi Gulf Coast. His team operated out of a temporary morgue that had been set up at an airport hanger with the sides blown out. The work conditions were primitive, power shortages were common, and indoor plumbing was nonexistent.
Tewes' team would break up each day into groups, each group traveling to one of three sites on the Gulf Coast.
Tewes trekked the thirty miles or so to Biloxi every day to a station his team established at the Biloxi Public Safety Building. The site provided families looking for missing members a place to give information and DNA samples.
"There was just no escaping the devastation, it just goes for hundreds of miles," says Tewes. Without electricity, communication, or water, "People were just trying to survive at that point." Full Article >
Posted: Nov. 11, 2005
Tulane Professor Addresses Social Work Students Regarding Hurricane
Dr. George Goldberg, adjunct professor at Tulane School of Social Work and clinical associate professor at Tulane Medical School, discussed "The Impact of Katrina in Process: Clinical and Social Ramifications," at the School of Social Work on Monday, September 26. Goldberg, himself displaced to Baltimore by Hurricane Katrina, shared with an overflowing crowd his thoughts on how the Hurricane has changed families in the affected region and how social workers will need to address those changes on both a clinical and policy-making level for many years to come.
Posted: Sept. 26, 2005
Update on “Two School of Pharmacy Residents Going to Louisiana”
Crystal Henderson, PharmD, psychiatric pharmacy resident and Deborah McNutt, PharmD, oncology resident, continue to do well. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene team set up six clinics at different sites with one pharmacist at each. Crystal’s clinic is seeing about 200 patients a day. She does dispensing, patient counseling and consultation with the physicians in the clinic. A lot of consultation involves matching patient needs with the limited supply of drugs that are available. There are now at least two community pharmacies open in the area, so some patients have been referred to them.
The lack of Internet access and communication has been a particular problem. Interestingly, they do not even have available the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations and advisories for immunization in the Katrina-affected area, even though immunizations have been one of the primary issues in the area. Last night, we had to spend time going over CDC documents via the cell phone. While many maintenance drugs are available, Crystal in particular was concerned about the lack of maintenance and acute use psychiatric drugs. There is concern about the resources available to deal with acute stress reactions, depression and ongoing psychiatric disorders.
Deb’s clinic ended yesterday and she will return home Tuesday. Crystal’s clinic is scheduled to continue Tuesday and Wednesday. She is currently scheduled to be evacuated Wednesday evening before Hurricane Rita gets closer to the area.
Posted: Sept. 20, 2005
Two School of Pharmacy Residents Going to Louisiana
Two of our Pharmacy Practice and Services residents will be joining a Maryaland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene team to serve victims of Hurricane Katrina in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana for two weeks. Crystal Henderson, PharmD, psychiatric pharmacy resident and Deborah McNutt, PharmD, oncology resident, will be departing Sept. 17 to relieve other pharmacists who have been on site in the disaster area since Labor Day. Communications with the area are not reliable, but we will update you on their status as we hear from them. We’ll keep both of them and the people they are serving in our thoughts.
Posted: Sept. 16, 2005
School of Social Work Katrina Response Roundup
A member of the School's SGA is located in the lobby during regular school hours to accept monetary donations that will be given to the American Red Cross at the end of the month. Please donate in the form of cash, so that we can give one payment on behalf of the students, faculty and staff at the SSW. Everyone in the building is encouraged to contribute.
During the month of October, the School's SGA intends to adopt families relocated to the Baltimore/D.C. area through United Way or the Salvation Army. Once we become aware of the families specific needs, we will provide receptacles for everyone to bring the items to the SSW.
In the spring semester, the School's SGA intends to sponsor a campus wide blood drive with the American Red Cross.
A member of the School's SGA is researching the possibility of a group of students traveling to the area, after being trained by the Red Cross, to provide volunteer services for the victims. SGA is still investigating this matter, and as they find more information, they will promptly inform all students.
The School's Social Work Community Outreach Service (SWCOS) is working in the local community with a family of a School graduate whose siblings were among those evacuated to Baltimore from the affected region.
The School has taken in four students from colleges and universities shut down by the storm. More students may begin or continue their studies here in January.
Dr. Susan T. Futeral, who is both an MSW and PhD alumna of the School, and has been a part-time faculty member at various times, has volunteered to work with Hurricane Katrina victims and has been assigned by them to work in Baton Rouge, La. Dr. Futeral, who has had disaster training, represents another contribution from the School.
Posted: Sept. 16, 2005
Forensic Dentist from UM Dental School Assists in Hurricane Recovery
Reprinted, in part, from the Biloxi, Miss. Sun Herald:
In addition to New York police and artists (who came to Mississippi to assist Hurricane Katrina victims), one man connected to the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa., came to Biloxi to work in Katrina's aftermath. Forensic dentist Warren Tewes, DDS, of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) is helping find and identify the dead, just like he did in Pennsylvania. He is a professor at the University of Maryland Dental School.
Tewes said the scenes on the ground in Pennsylvania affected him deeply. People there were never referred to as victims, he said. They were called heroes, which he said was different from the dead in South Mississippi, who were overwhelmed by a natural disaster.
He also said that another difference from his work with Flight 93 is the amount of time it will take to complete the identification process because the dead in Mississippi are scattered across several counties.
Tewes remained on the Flight 93 Federal Task Force, which was in charge of picking the design for the memorial to those 44 passengers and crew who fought their four captors. Plans for the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County, Pa., unveiled earlier this week, will include chimes for each of the dead located in a chapel.
"Freedom isn't free," Tewes said. "Flight 93 is about celebrating the sacrifice of others."
Posted: Sept. 15, 2005
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Faculty Support Katrina Evacuees
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A delegation of University of Maryland School of Pharmacy faculty are working at a temporary pharmacy intake center at the DuBurns Arena set up by the City of Baltimore to provide medical services for Katrina evacuees who temporarily are living here in Baltimore and the surrounding area. The Salvation Army in a partnership with Neighbor Care is helping to cover the costs for the medications.
On Monday, Profs. Nicki Brandt, Deb Sturpe, and Robert Michocki provided pharmaceutical services for the evacuees. Tuesday, Drs. Chanel Agness and Charmaine Rochester provided the service. The School has just been informed that the city of Baltimore will continue to provide evacuees with the availability of a number of specialized services, including prescription drugs, for the remainder of this week and through next week.
The evacuees are living with family, friends and hotels throughout the Baltimore area, but coming to the arena to receive medical and other support services which are being coordinated by the city’s department of public health.
We may ask for additional support from other professional organizations in the area.
Posted: Sept. 15, 2005
CPFI & SMdPHA Hurricane Katrina relief donations
Donations will be distributed to the Salvation Army. We will be in Pharmacy Hall Monday 9/12 and Tuesday 9/13 8:00am – 10:00am. If you can not come at this time, and would like to donate please speak with:
1st Year: Amy Vu hvu001@umaryland.edu
2nd Year: Melonie Powell mpowe004@umaryland.edu
3rd Year: Amol Joshi ajosh001@umaryland.edu
Thank you to those who have already given so generously!! Please continue to pray for those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Posted: Sept. 13, 2005
HS/HSL Collecting for Animal Shelters
The Health Sciences and Human Services Library is currently collecting items to send to animal shelters in Louisiana and Missisippi. Items needed are leashes, collars, bowls, food, treats, toys and any other animal related items. For more information, please contact Colette Becker at 410-706-2855/cbecker@hshsl.umaryland.edu or Sheila Snow-Croft at 410-706-2855/ssnowcro@hshsl.umaryland.edu
Posted: Sept. 13, 2005
School of Nursing Assisting Nursing Students Displaced by Hurricane Katrina
The School of Nursing is working with two nursing students from Louisiana where schools have been closed due to Hurricane Katrina. One student is from the Charity School of Nursing and the other is from Southern University.
We will consider admitting displaced students to our program or providing assistance to displaced nursing students in locating local colleges and universities if they need to complete general education pre-requisites. In addition, we will waive the application fee to our program.
We are committed to helping nursing students complete their professional studies at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral level and look forward to facilitating their progress.
Our Office of Admissions can be reached at 410-706-0501 for further information and assistance.
Posted: Sept. 13, 2005
Update from the School of Nursing Wellmobile team:
Monday 9/12/05, the Wellmobile team settled in to Brookhaven, Miss. a community just north of New Orleans. They are working with the local American Red Cross and community leadership moving from shelter to shelter to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. Most of their clients are New Orleans evacuees, as well as the local Mississippi victims. They are dealing with flood, as well as storm-related illnesses and injuries. They are seeing 200 patients per day. The team is staying at a camp ground next to the community’s Red Cross shelter and continues to make their way to the people in greatest need.
The team's morale is high and they are accomplishing their mission.
Posted: Sept., 13, 2005
Wellmobiles Head to Alabama to Help with Hurricane Relief
Two Wellmobiles from the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Governor's Wellmobile Program left for Montgomery, Ala., 
Wednesday, Sept. 7, where they will provide primary health care to victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Wellmobiles will report directly to the American Red Cross Headquarters in Montgomery, where they will stay for two weeks, serving approximately 7,000 displaced hurricane victims.
Stocked to the brim with medical supplies and other necessities, the Wellmobiles departed from the School of Nursing with Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, director of the Wellmobile program, leading the way. In addition to Dr. Wiseman, four RNs—one of whom is a BSN student at the School of Nursing—four nurse practitioners, one nursing student, two Wellmobile drivers, and one RV driver are among the School of Nursing’s team.
While this effort is supported in part by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the University of Maryland Medical System, Atlantic General Hospital and Connect Maryland, Inc., more funds are desperately needed to cover the cost of the trip, estimated at $200,000. David and Marla Oros are conducting this fundraising effort through their nonprofit organization, Connect Maryland, Inc.
Donations can be sent to Connect Maryland, Inc., Attn: Mark Dewire, 100 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Please make checks payable to Connect Maryland, Inc. Mem Wellmobile.
The Governor's Wellmobile Program began in 1994 as a private/public partnership. The School of Nursing currently operates four 33’ long Wellmobiles, each equipped with two examination rooms; a reception and education room; a laboratory; and computer, fax and cell phone capability. Two Wellmobiles operate on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, one operates in Central Maryland and one in Western Maryland. Services include health screenings, health education, physical examinations, smoking prevention programs, immunizations, well-child care, vision and hearing screenings, detection and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, laboratory tests and diagnosis, and treatment/referral for illnesses.
Posted: Sept. 8, 2005
School of Pharmacy Opens Doors to Pharmacy Students Displaced by Hurricane Disaster
We have all been shocked by the extent of the disaster wreaked by Katrina.
As the country enters the recovery phase, the School of Pharmacy is mobilizing to assist pharmacy students from colleges devastated by the storm and flooding. We will work with any student from Xavier University or other storm-impacted school of pharmacy to determine if we can mesh our program with his or her needs. We will consider admission as special students to our first three years of the doctor of pharmacy program, and will seek to place students in four-week experiential rotations as needed and available.
Tuition and fees will be waived for the fall semester for admitted students. We will assist in finding housing in the area and will attempt to provide personal and financial aid to relocated students.
We are committed to helping pharmacy students complete their professional education as smoothly as possible despite this disaster.
For further information, contact the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs at 800-852-2988 or 410-706-7653. Also see our Web site at www.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/admissions for details about the doctor of pharmacy program at Maryland.
Posted: Sep. 8, 2005
School of Law Hosts Teach-in on Katrina Aftermath
On September 7, the School of Law hosted a University-wide teach-in on the emergency response, disaster planning, and social justice issues surrounding the Katrina aftermath. It featured speakers from the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security; the National Study Center for Trauma and Emergency Medical Systems; and the schools of law, medicine and nursing.
To watch the recorded webcast and learn more about the program visit:
http://www.law.umaryland.edu/news_detail.asp?news=61
School of Law admits 9 Tulane and Loyola (New Orleans) Students
As of Tuesday evening, the School of Law has welcomed nine 2nd and 3rd year law students from Tulane and Loyola (New Orleans) into its community. Students have been individually assisted with orientation to new classes, housing and books.
School of Law students are continuing their fundraising, food and clothing drives to help support organizations working in the areas devastated by Katrina and with those left homeless.
The University-wide teach-in on the Katrina aftermath and disaster relief planning will take place at the School of Law today at 12:10 p.m. in room 107.
We will be admitting at least three students from Xavier University College of Pharmacy, one into the first year and two into the second of the PharmD program. Coursemasters will be informed as the students arrive and are enrolled, so that individual evaluations can be made about readiness, etc. Other inquiries are being processed.
The Federal Department of Health and Human Services has put out a call for pharmacists to join disaster relief teams. Information is attached.
Posted: Sep. 6, 2005
UMB School of Social Work admits student affected by Katrina
School of Social Work admitted at least one student from that area. Associate Dean for Administration and Registration Jennie Bloom is a good contact to learn more.
Posted: Sep. 6, 2005
School of Pharmacy Opens Doors to Pharmacy Students Displaced by Hurricane Disaster
We have all been shocked by the extent of the disaster wreaked by Katrina.
As the country enters the recovery phase, the School of Pharmacy is mobilizing to assist pharmacy students from colleges devastated by the storm and flooding. We will work with any student from Xavier University or other storm-impacted school of pharmacy to determine if we can mesh our program with his or her needs. We will consider admission as special students to our first three years of the doctor of pharmacy program, and will seek to place students in four-week experiential rotations as needed and available.
Tuition and fees will be waived for the fall semester for admitted students. We will assist in finding housing in the area and will attempt to provide personal and financial aid to relocated students.
We are committed to helping pharmacy students complete their professional education as smoothly as possible despite this disaster.
For further information, contact the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs at 800-852-2988 or 410-706-7653. Also see our website at www.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/admissions for details about the doctor of pharmacy program at Maryland.
Posted: Sep. 6, 2005
Statement to Law School Students from Dean Karen Rothenberg
I am sure that you, like all of us, are just heartsick about the tragedy caused by hurricane Katrina. I am writing to let you know that in some small way we have begun to help. I am sure you will hear soon from SBA President Amy Petkovsek about fundraising and donation efforts. In the meantime, I wanted to fill you in on what the School of Law is doing in an effort to help the law students in New Orleans who have been displaced by the hurricane.
In accordance with the guidance received from the Deans of Tulane and Loyola-New Orleans Schools of Law, the University of Maryland School of Law will accept applications from 3L students for visiting student status for the Fall Semester 2005. A preference will be given to those students who are residents of Maryland or who have family or other strong ties to the state. We will take applications from 2Ls but their acceptance as visitors is provisional, conditioned on the later permission from their home schools for that status. At the request of the deans of the two schools, we will not accept any first year students.
Our policy of allowing for provisional transfers is part of a coordinated effort by the other area law schools as well as law schools nationwide. It makes me immensely proud to see how quickly law schools have acted to support Dean Ponoroff of Tulane and Dean Bromberger of Loyola and to put into place policies to assist their students in their time of uncertainty and need.
When we know more about the imminent arrival of our visitors, Dean O'Neill and Amy Petkovsek will be back in touch with specifics about how you might help. It may be that some of these visiting students will need housing or other essentials. At a minimum, we know they will need assistance catching up on what has already taken place in the classrooms. I have confidence that each of you will work to ensure that their transition to our law school is as positive as we can make possible. Thank you
Posted: Sep. 2, 2005
School of Law Student Government Relief Efforts
Monetary Contributions will be organized by Phi Delta Phi, and will go to the American Red Cross.
Clothing and Food Contributions will be organized by a BLSA and SBA joint effort. Any non-perishable food items, dry items such as diapers, and clothing will be accepted. These will be sent to local organizations that are shipping the goods to affected areas.
Each of these drives will be located at a table by the mailboxes starting Tuesday, September 6.
Submitted by … Amy Petkovsek, Student Bar Association President
Posted: Sep. 2, 2005
UMB First Response
Offer to Help—On the morning of Aug. 31, law school Dean Karen Rothenberg received word that Tulane University law school officials needed help for their students. President Ramsay then polled the deans of all six UMB professional schools and found we could take about 10 students or so in each school. By 2 p.m. on Thursday, we had welcomed our first visiting student … a master’s degree social work student from Tulane (her family lives in Baltimore). She attended her first class at the University of Maryland School of Social Work on Sept. 1. She was in New Orleans when her school was flooded, but was able to return to Baltimore.
Wellmobiles—The University of Maryland School of Nursing operates the “Governor’s Wellmobile” system: four mobile clinics that usually provide health care and other services to low-income people throughout the state. Gov. Ehrlich called and asked if two Wellmobiles could be sent to the hurricane zone to help. Those arrangements are being finalized. The two Wellmobiles and a staff of nurses will pack Tuesday, Sept. 6 and leave Wednesday, Sept. 7.
Posted: Sep. 2, 2005
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