FIMRC Newsletter
In This Issue
Project Alajuelita Promotes Life Skills
AMA Partners with FIMRC
Ambassadors Bring Added Value
Project Peru in the News
FOM Alex Kelly Highlighted

July/2010
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Adolescent Group Launches at Project Alajuelita, Costa Rica
Navigating through the uncharted territory known as adolescence is difficult for everyone.  Imagine how daunting this task would be in the developing world with scarce resources and few mentors.  FIMRC field CR Adolescent Group staff members Dr. Reinhart Stedem and Dayan Alvarado have designed a curriculum with interactive presentations to address a wide range of topics relevant to this delicate stage of development.  A co-ed group of 10 engaged participants ranging from 14 to 17 are meeting to discuss relationships, pregnancy, family planning, sexually transmitted infections, and peer pressure.  Psychologist Dr. Freddy Perez supports these efforts by teaching the tools necessary to manage the myriad emotions brought on during adolescent years.
FIMRC Becomes American Medical Association WorldScopes Recipient
FIMRC caught wind of AMA's WorldScopes initiative and less than one week later became the lucky recipient of 28 stethoscopes.  "WorldScopes collects stethoscopes from US physicians and distributes them, with the help of humanitarian organizations, to communities around the world where medical supplies are scarce."*  These "universal symbols of modern medicine"* will be distributed among FIMRC clinics and partner organizations across all six project sites.  We would like tWorldScopes Logoo extend a special thanks to the American Medical Association for their generosity.  Pictures and video footage of the stethoscope exchange will be available shortly on the AMA WorldScope website.

*AMA website - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/worldscopes.shtml

Ambassadors Shine, Stateside and Abroad
Height Chart ESFIMRC's Ambassador Program selects highly motivated individuals to undertake long-term projects that address their interests while tackling global health issues head-on.  10 Ambassadors are currently working abroad and at the FIMRC headquarters in Philadelphia.  Projects underway in Peru include a nutrition program, an English for Health curriculum, and Casas Modelos, which aims to raise the standard of health for participating families with the end goal of graduating select households to the FIMRC home stay program for Global Health Volunteers and mobile clinic staff.  A patient cost analysis of the adult population versus the 0-18 demographic for the clinic in Costa Rica is producing valuable data.  Ambassadors for Project Las Delicias in El Salvador are managing the initial stages for a water filtration system, sharing a holistic treatment of contaminated water, conducting an art group for children, and piloting electronic medical record software.  Projects in motion in Philadelphia include a competitor analysis, Chaptership promotion, the creation of a student health education manual, and further research on electronic medical record software.  FIMRC is grateful for all of the Ambassadors' hard work and looks forward to highlighting the results of their projects in the upcoming months at www.fimrc.org.
Project Peru in the News
VDT HeaderOne of the stand-alone qualities of the project in Trujillo, Peru is the behind-the-scenes glimpse volunteers get into the Peruvian medical system, specifically public hospitals and clinics.  Recent Global Health Volunteer alum, Karly Bishop, led a group of students down to Peru to take advantage of this unique opportunity.  "What amazes me and the reason I love going back is that the people regardless of their living conditions or health problems are so appreciative of not only our help, but life in general."  Karly is in her third year of medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Read more about her Global Health Volunteer experience in a recent news article highlighted in The Valdosta Daily Times by clicking on the image above.
FIMRC Team Member Highlight: Alex Kelly

Alex Kelly's ability to strike an effective balance between community outreach, local development, and clinic management has everyone smiling these days.  Proof is in the picture!  As Field Operations Manager for Project Las Delicias, Alex's design and implementation of various projects in the second quarter of the year has resulted in FIMRC reaching a larger demographic.  Some examples include combating dengue fever with fish, a recycle & waste project, a nutrition group focused on community gardening, an adolescent group, a proposal for clinic expansion, and a healthy food festival.  Additional outreach includes establishing partnerships with San Rafael Hospital, Dr. Jose MatíaAlex  Highlight - July 2010s Delgado University, and the Red Cross.  It's worth mentioning that all of these gains would not be possible without the support from fellow FIMRC field staff, the community as a whole, and Global Health Volunteers and Ambassadors.

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