04-JUN-A-5
INTRODUCTORY
PLANS FOR THE PROPOSED
MEDICAL AND
FLOOD RELIEF
THE
From: Glenn Geelhoed
To: bra@bateyrelief.org
Date:
Subject: Re: Plans for proposed medical aid travel to Dominican Republic/Haiti
Dear Dr. Ulrick:
Allow me to introduce myself, if somewhat tardy having just returned from other travels. I was hoping to hold off my discussions until I would know some more specifics about what we could offer, since I have always got a large number of medical students eager and ready to participate in such an international relief effort, but they have scattered for the summer in the case of the past‑year freshmen/rising sophomores (the only medical students who have a "summer") at the date of the graduation ceremonies last week for which I had returned.
I have a good friend who is a retired surgeon
in Youngstown Ohio, Dr. Rashid Abdu who is now an experienced medical mission
provider ( a former GWU medical alumnus and host of annual Visiting
Professorships I had given over twenty years in his program he had always said
he was eager to carry out such missions when he retired‑‑and,
unlike many people who say the same, he is actually doing it!) He is interested in the DR, having done
Mexican missions, and his family had reservations about
Not
so in the case of Elizabeth Pagan, a person who has been actively working on a
Lutheran medial mission in Haiti and who would like to join us while there to
which she and a team are leaving next week.
I will be meeting with her and her team on Tuesday with
I am a veteran of international medical missions past counting (see attachment) and have done a dozen or more a year for decades. I had also ordered from MAP (Medical Assistance Programs, Inc, of which I am a member and regular user of their international travel packs of antibiotics, analgesics, ointments, rehydration salts, bandages, and a number of nutritional and vitamin packs‑‑of the kind that I had used regularly in India and in Africa in recent missions. These can be carried in with all the disclaimers for non‑sale and only under the license of the accompanying physician, which would be I.
Further details about how many students can be freed up‑‑literally scores were besieging me at the time we had started in the process, when the travel restrictions on Haiti pulled that plug and a diversion to Honduras was worked out for a part of that team‑‑who would join Bryan and me as part of the public health team, and the specific details of the dates and arrangements are the things I shall have to work out when we meet next week. Immediately after our meeting, I will be immersed in a ten day "residence" which the doctoral program refers to as "boot camp", for day and night on another campus. When I return form that, I had found that I could clear obligations about the time that Dr. Abdu also says he might be free‑‑having an Indian reservation trip canceled on the illness of the team leader‑‑about the start of the week July 19, and could continue for at least two weeks, particularly if there is an extension for our return into Haiti, where we had worked last year. For that the transportation and clearances will need to be obtained‑‑and you are very well aware of how the local ground transport is not an assumed "given."
For
your interest, the project MediShare we had carried out in Thumonde
I look forward to further planning as more details become available to send to you and to incorporate your suggestions in what we can and cannot offer become known.
Thank you for your patience.
GWG
>>> <bra@bateyrelief.org> 06/04/04 04:01PM >>>
Great
Many lives are at stake now.
Your support will help save them.
I
may even arrange for the group to cross into
This will depend mostly on if the group wants to do it.
Thanks,
Ulrick
‑‑‑‑‑ Original Message ‑‑‑‑‑
From: Bryan Schaaf
To: bra@bateyrelief.org
Sent:
Subject: Re:
Ulrick,
I have passed your information on to Dr. Glenn Geelhoed and he said that he would contact you shortly. Together, we should be able make this happen. I am going to send him an email and touch base with him again about this.
bra@bateyrelief.org wrote:
Dear Bryan,
We would like to set a medical mission with your group as soon as possible for the flood victims.
Can you please tell me whether you are still interested.
Look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Ulrick
‑‑‑‑‑ Original Message ‑‑‑‑‑
From: Bryan Schaaf
To: bra@bateyrelief.org
Sent:
Subject: Re:
Ulrich,
Simply put, we will do what you feel is most appropriate. We will have a surgeon/infectious disease specialist, several other doctors (hopefully a GP and a pediatrician), several medical students, and also some public health students. We can bring down medications and carry out health fairs in areas which are under‑served. We can also diagnose and make referrals. Our public health students are able to conduct needs‑assessments for public health projects.
I will not be able to arrange housing as my spanish skills are not strong. We were hoping that in exchange for our time and medicine, BRA could help us find temp. housing. Of course, we will pay for food. Not knowing the country, having transportation arranged would be useful.
I anticipate we could work for about five days....or if you feel that is too much, then we could shorten that time period.
We will be bringing a MAP pack of medications and will try to bring extra vitamins, hypertensives, etc. This usually lasts a few days. But the person to talk to for specifics would be Dr. Glenn Geelhoed who will lead the trip. Should I give you his email address?
I must leave the office right now, but would be happy to discuss ideas further or give you Dr. Geelhoed's email address.
Talk to you soon,
bra@bateyrelief.org wrote:
Dear Bryan,
That's fine.
Since you plan on having a medical mission,
what type of care will you be providing?
How many doctors/students will be coming?
How may days?
Will you be making the group's lodging, meals and ground transporatation arrangements?
How much of medical supplies and medicines will you be bringing?
We will also need the exact dates the group will be arriving for preparation.
As you can see, we do not have much time to prepare for a full‑blown mission,
it usually takes us 6 months to prepare.
We also have certain protocols to follow, i.e., resumes and copies of professional licenses of the persons providing direct care to the patients, etc.
Please call me at (917) 627‑5026 to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
Ulrick
‑‑‑‑‑ Original Message ‑‑‑‑‑
From: Bryan Schaaf
To: bra@bateyrelief.org
Sent:
Subject: Re:
Ulrick,
We would like learn more about BRA, what is being done, and what remains to be done. Of course we would like to discuss future collaborative work as well. However, we feel that we can make ourselves useful while we are there by carrying out a medical mission in the Bateyes and examining public health needs followed by ways to go about meeting these needs.
As far as dates, we thought we would come around July 18 or so. I wish it would have worked out that we could do this the last week of August when you will be there, but students will be preparing for their classes. This is the time that works best for Doctor Geelhoed.
Our agenda will depend on BRA to a large extent. We can give BRA roughly five days, during which we can have discussions, site visits, and medical missions in areas you feel are paritcularly under‑served.
As we talk more and finalize a list of will be coming, we can create a schedule and mutually agreeable agenda.
Sincerely,
Bryan Schaaf
bra@bateyrelief.org wrote:
Dear Brian,
Great to hear from you.
I have a few questions:
1. Are you going to have a medical mission in the bateyes with BRA this summer?
2. Or are you sending a group to discuss future collaborative work with BRA ‑‑ meaning to have meetings with BRA and visits of BRA's work?
Since you are going to be in July, you and the group will work directly with our office in the DR.
I will arrive myself end of August.
Please send me an agenda for the trip to the DR, including who is coming with a list of names, and what topics/projects you wish to discuss with our local office, and the duration of the trip with BRA in the DR. This is just for us to prepare ourselves.
‑‑‑‑‑ Original Message ‑‑‑‑‑
From: Bryan Schaaf
To: bra@bateyrelief.org
Sent:
Subject: Re:
Ulrick,
As
pertains to the
As it stands now, we would like come to Santo Domingo sometime in the neighborhood of July 18. We anticipate spending approximately five days in the DR. After this point, we would like to go across the Haitian border and spend a few fays working in the central plateau of Haiti where I used to be based.
We are unsure yet if we will fly out of Haiti or the DR. Someone mentioned we might have to get our passports stamped at the Haitian border to fly out of Port‑au‑Prince and I am not sure if they are able to do that right now. We can talk about this more later.
I just wanted to let you know that we are making good progress and are looking forward to working with you and BRA.
Sincerely,
Bryan Schaaf
bra@bateyrelief.org wrote:
Dear Bryan,
Great to hear from you, and thank you so much for your quick response.
I would be happy to brainstorm with you creating a formal relationship with the GWU ‑‑
and have teams of medical/public health personnel travel to BRA's health care facilities in the bateyes.
I will be in the DR most likely at the end of August.
But if you would like to travel to the DR before then, I will put in contact with our local Executive Director to talk to you about how to formally create a working relationship with the BRA. She would also take you to our sites.
Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Sincerely,
Ulrick
‑‑‑‑‑ Original Message ‑‑‑‑‑
From: Bryan Schaaf
To: bra@bateyrelief.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 10:05 AM
Subject: Re:
Ulrick,
I have looked at the letter. Perhaps forming a relationship with the department of public health at George Washington University might be useful. We had planned a medical/public health trip to the central plateau of Haiti where I used to work but political instability prevented us from going. Maybe teams could come from GW to bring medications and lend a hand where needed.
One possibility is that I could come through the DR this summer and look at the various projects. I speak Kreyol and have a public health background. This might be a good first step to something more long‑term.
Id be happy to talk more about this with you at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Bryan Schaaf
bra@bateyrelief.org wrote:
Dear Bryan,
How are you?
I am sending this letter of support.
Please take a look at it, and let me know what you can do.
Please take good care,
Ulrick