USF Health Coordinates Disaster Response

To: USF Health Faculty, Students and Staff
From: Stephen K. Klasko, CEO for USF Health, Dean of College of Medicine

Our hearts go out to those suffering in Haiti as a result of the recent devastating earthquake, as well as to those in our own USF community who have personal ties to Haiti.

In the past few days, many of you have asked me about the best way for you to help. I am deeply gratified by your response. It’s a wonderful testimony to the compassion embodied in the USF Health community.

I am working with our leadership group to plan and organize capable and effective relief efforts, both in the form of healthcare teams to be dispatched to Haiti and also in organized relief efforts on campus. You will be kept informed of our plans and of the many ways that you will be able to contribute. You can get the latest updates on this news at this page on the USF Health website.

As those efforts proceed, here are answers to some of the immediate questions you have asked:

• Where can I donate money? Here are several reputable relief organizations already working in Haiti: The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, Yele Haiti and Oxfam America, among others.

• Will USF provide an organized response? On Tuesday, Jan. 19, USF’s Office of Civic Engagement will meet at 5 p.m. in the Marshall Student Center, Room 3707. For more information, go here.

• Who at USF Health is working on this? Dr. John Sinnott, associate dean of International Affairs in the College of Medicine, will coordinate USF Health's Haiti response. He will be in close contact with Roger Brindley, of USF World, who is coordinating all of USF’s relief efforts.

• I’m working on a relief project. Who should I talk to about it? Please make sure that Dr. Sinnott is aware of your work, so that he can coordinate all efforts.

• I want to go to Haiti. Will USF Health send a team? We are working to determine the best answer to how we can provide medical assistance in Haiti. If you are interested in visiting Haiti, please contact Dr. Sinnott (jsinnott@health.usf.edu.) Please provide him with a brief description of your medical skills.

• I need to talk to someone about my loved ones in Haiti. Any student directly affected should contact the Student Counseling Center to seek support.

• What else should I know about USF’s response? Here is President Genshaft’s letter to the community.