it's a privilege

Today is one of those rare days when I really like my job.

My acupuncturist came in and gave a presentation on integrated medicine. I was expecting a lot of resistance from the staff to consider the idea of therapies beyond pills and surgery, especially given the majority of the work we do, but a fair number of people showed up, and quite a few took one of her cards because they were intrigued by the ideas she presented in her wonderful presentation, and they wanted to make an appointment to see what acupuncture might do for them.

I spent the afternoon working on copy for a fundraising brochure for one of our faculty. Dr. Keith Ferdinand had a busy cardiology practice in the 9th Ward in New Orleans. He also lived there. Establishing his practice there was his way of helping the community he had grown up in.

Katrina changed all that in a matter of days. He lost everything - both his home and his practice - files, hugely expensive diagnostic equipment, everything. He relocated to Atlanta and started over again. Instead of dwelling in bitterness over the lack of progress to rebuild the city, he chose instead to do something about it, and formed the Health Outreach Prevention and Empowerment (HOPE) program through the Association of Black Cardiologists. They've done, and continue to do, amazing things:

• Supporting shelters in local communities
• Assisting with letter writing campaigns to Senators and Congressional leaders
• Providing transportation to resource centers and transitional housing units
• Providing food, toiletries, and clothing
• Providing telephone access for family contact
• Providing health-based recreational activities for the shelters
• Developing key contacts in cities needing direct financial support for evacuees
• Distributing debit cards for transportation and personal needs of victims
• Purchasing a Mobile Medical Unit to allow ABC to provide basic essential care for chronic illnesses in high-risk communities

• Conducting health screening events
• Supplying cell phones to Reach 2010 "At The Heart of New Orleans" a community–based, cardiovascular risk reduction research project

• Supporting "Health Recovery Week" a collaborative effort with the New Orleans Health Department and Morehouse School of Medicine

He asked us to help create a brochure to hand out at association meetings and other venues to remind people that while pictures of the French Quarter and the Garden District and the Superdome may lead many to believe that everything is back to normal, it ain't. Especially in places like New Orleans East, or the lower 9th Ward, or St. Bernard Parish.

The current level of health care available in New Orleans proper remains only a small fraction of what it once was. Only three of nine hospitals within Orleans Parish have reopened, and the total functioning in-patient beds are less than 50%. Many people who had jobs and health insurance before the hurricane were without both after it, and they have to do one of two things - go to emergency rooms for treatment and rack up bills they can't pay or go without health care altogether until the free clinics come to town, by which time they're in severe pain and suffering from chronic conditions.

Roughly 60% of the New Orleans population lives outside the city post-evacuation. More alarming, three-fourths of the city's medical providers have not returned. What's more, they may not be able to return. Dr. Ferdinand said that while he could rebuild his practice on the site where it used to be, the area is so environmentally toxic, it wouldn't be habitable.

Management was quick to agree to help with this brochure project, and I was lucky enough to be asked to write the copy for it. We're doing the design, layout, and printing as well. I'm also trying to talk management into making a monetary donation to HOPE. (If you would like to donate, or would like to find out more about the program, go here.)

A brochure is a small thing, I know, but it's something nonetheless. I need more projects like this.

Remember that scene in The Bishop's Wife where Cary Grant's angel character, Dudley, helps the blind man cross the street? The blind man thanks him, and Cary Grant simply says "It's a privilege," and you know he meant it. I do too.

Feel free to re-post the donation link.