Have you been waiting to find an opportunity to get involved in PHR activites? Well, wait no longer! Please check out these announcements that were emailed from PHR officers about upcoming opportunities to get involved with PHR. Stop procrastinating, and start doing!

CALLS Center Volunteering

Hi, My name is Kyung Ji. I’m a second semester student responsible for being a contact person for the CALLS this term. Center for Adolescents Learn to Love and Serve (CALLS) is a non-profit school located in Portsmouth. The center provides opportunity to learn essential life skills (such as reading, writing and simple arithmetics) as well as job training for kids who couldn’t continue their education in regular schools. Tutors from Ross mostly focus on teaching english and math (very very simple and basic level). Tutoring can start either at 1 pm or 2 pm. Time you spend shouldn’t be more than 2 hours every time you go: 1 hour tutor + 1 hour or so of waiting for transport and such. You don’t have to go every week, every other week is perfectly fine. If you can’t go every other week, but every 3 or 4 weeks, shoot me an email with when you’d be able to go, I’ll try to figure things out. But once you put your schedule down, I ask you to try best to adhere to it or let me know when you can’t make it as early as possible. If you’re interested in volunteering at the center this semester, let me know.

Thanks, Kyung Ji
(email kyungji@rossmed.edu.dm)

International Health Policy

Greetings All,

You’re receiving this e-mail because you’ve expressed interest in Physicians for Human Rights. My name is David Zodda and I’m the PHR officer in charge of the International Health Care Policy division of our chapter. The goal of this division of PHR is to focus on a particular international health care policy, research it, and ultimately raise awareness about it within our community her at Ross. This Friday, PHR will beholding a round table discussion designed to determine the focus of this semester’s policy initiative. If you’re interested in international health, if you have a background in social justice work, or if your just curious as to what this is all about, please come and join us. All attending are encouraged to bring ideas and suggestions for a particular international health care policies you would like to see us focus on for this semester. If your looking for ideas, you can check out our parent website www.physiciansforhumanrights.org

The meeting will be held on: Friday, June 1 at 5pm in PBL 16 (the PBL room adjoins the library, opposite classroom 4) Look forward to seeing you there.

David Zodda
(email davidzodda@rossmed.edu.dm)

Women’s Health

Hello fellow PHR members. The Womens Health Coalition Group of PHR is having a meeting this Thursday ( May 31st) at noon on the Subway Deck. I am sending out this e-mail to invite anyone interested in getting involved on any level. This is a great opportunity to bring any of your ideas or passions. This is a new group to PHR and there are a lot of chances to get your ideas started, help with others ideas or take leadership positions. Below I have listed some of the current ideas and running projects:

We would also like to start a domestic effort for women’s health here in Dominica. This semester will be mostly about research and trying to fully understand the women’s condition and needs. Those interested would be involved in interviewing Women Physicians in Dominica, possibly working with a Peace Corp Representive (to see what they have done or need help with) and doing basic research. At the end of the semester we would like to have an informational seminar with guest speakers for the student body to educate them on the complications here in Dominica. The information gathered will ultimitly be used in the upcoming semesters to start projects and providing aid.

Currently the only established project is the Panzi Clinic. For those of you who don’t know, Panzi Clinic is a non-profit organization that provides medical services for women in the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been vitims of rape used as a weapon of war. In the past PHR has collaborated with S.A.F.E.R (Social Aid for the Elimination of Rape) a Canadian-based group of medical students to aid the clinic by sending much needed sutures. We are looking for a team to research several ways that we can continue aiding the Panzi Clinic. We would also like to set up an informational seminar at the end of the semester to educate the general Student Body about the clinic, how we have helped in the past, and how we are going to continue to help.

For those of you interested come to the subway deck this Thursday at noon and voice your views. There will be leadership opportunities as well. Even if you just want to check it out and here what others have to say stop by. If you can’t make the meeting but are interested send me an e-mail and I will arrange to meet with you.

Thank You,

Monica Wilkins
PHR Womens Health Coalition Group Coordinator
(email monicawilkins@rossmed.edu.dm)

Attention PHR Members!

We’re still in need of three more Group Representatives for:

International Health Policy
Education and Awareness
Dominican Affairs

The positions would preferably be filled by first or second semester students. As a Group Representative, you’d be helping the Group Coordinator by providing support for all activities. You’d also be learning the ropes in the hopes of eventually filling the Coordinator position once they’ve moved off the island. This is a great opportunity for motivated first and second semester students who are passionate about human rights!

If you’re interested, please send an email to the Group Coordinator. Contact information is located on the Officers page.

Ross PHR has undergone some structural revisions. Please welcome the new, Summer 2007 Ross PHR officers!

President: Nickolas Fouladpour
Treasurer: Jake Behringer
e-Secretary: Kendra Campbell
t-Secretary: Laura Tommaso

Group Coordinators:

International Health Policy: David Zodda
Women’s Health: Monica Wilkins; Representative: John Richey
Education and Awareness: Adnan Lakhani
Dominican Affairs: Doug Sherlock

Last semester, Ross PHR raised $6155.65 ($2,280.65 from MSA fundraiser and $3875.00 from OAS fundraiser), which is $2305.49 US. Dafni Sadler hand delivered the check to our contact person at S.A.F.E.R. in Canada over the break and the sutures on now on their way to the Panzi Clinic. The folks at S.A.F.E.R. will soon be sending us some photos of the Panzi Clinic. A big thanks to everyone who volunteered at the fundraisers, and to everyone who made donations!