Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine – Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Fall 2013 Board Members President – Rupa Karmakar Treasurer – Tharani Theivakumar Secretary – Vallerey Antenor Community Outreach Coordinator – Ashley Pollard Medical Relief Trip Coordinator – Diana Vargas Fundraising Coordinator – Millie Shah Public Relations Coordinator – Vrunda Dalal GSBS Class Representative – Oleksandra Petryna GSBS Class Representative – Rebecca Itskevich SOM Representative – Robert Nugent

Fun Facts 501(c) 3, non-profit organization dedicated to improving pediatric and maternal health in the developing world Founded in 2002 and incorporated in Washington, D.C. FIMRC Headquarters is in Philadelphia, PA. Engages about 700 individuals annually. Over 90% of FIMRC’s revenue is derived from its volunteer program. FIMRC is a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization dedicated to improving pediatric and maternal health in the developing world through the implementation of innovative and self-sustainable health improvement programs.  Through its network of outpatient clinics and partnerships, FIMRC asserts a multidimensional strategy that includes clinical services, extensive community outreach efforts and health education programs.   FIMRC is a self-sustainable organization with project related funding provided from business operations – the Global Health Volunteer Program engages approximately 700 individuals annually who volunteer their time abroad and make a contribution in exchange for the experience FIMRC provides. Over 90% of FIMRC’s revenue is derived from our volunteer program. FIMRC was founded in 2002, is incorporated in Washington, DC and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. The FIMRC team includes over 3,000 dedicated staff and volunteers worldwide who provide the leadership and support necessary to achieve our mission of improving access to health care for children in underserved communities.

Vision A world in which all children have an equal opportunity to benefit from modern medicine.

Mission To provide access to medical care for the millions of underprivileged and medically underserved children around the world. Project Alajuelita, Costa Rica Project Las Delicias, El Salvador Project Kodaikanal, India Project Limón, Nicaragua Project Peru: Huancayo, Agallpampa, Trujillo Project Bumwalukani, Uganda Project Restauración, Dominican Republic

How? Fundraise for the construction of pediatric clinics in areas currently lacking a reliable source for healthcare. Directly influence the health of children by encouraging individuals to travel to medically underserved areas of the world. To provide access to medical care for the millions of underprivileged and medically underserved children around the world. We strive to accomplish our mission through the following efforts:   Fundraising for the construction of pediatric clinics in areas currently lacking a reliable source for healthcare. FIMRC’s foremost goal is to establish in underserved areas a facility that can serve as a center for healthcare administration to the children in that community, and as a base for our health education programs that serve to improve basic knowledge about the normal functioning body and about common diseases endemic to the area. Prior to the construction of a clinic, FIMRC mandates that a member of our Project Development Team visit the proposed site and conduct a population survey and health assessment. Follow-up visits subsequent to project initiation are also required to ensure proper use of our resources, and ultimately to monitor the clinic’s success. Directly influence the health of children by encouraging and supporting individuals and groups who desire to travel to medically underserved areas of the world. FIMRC believes that better health is best achieved by direct care to those who can least access it. FIMRC organizes trips for volunteers to our clinics on an ongoing basis in an effort to supplement the care being delivered by local professionals. Medical volunteers work together to do physicals and deliver acute care as necessary. Non-medical volunteers assist with translating, administration, and a variety of other tasks. By inspiring others to become involved in global health, FIMRC aspires to broaden the level of impact in the communities we serve.  Encourage future health leaders to become involved in our purpose by recognizing their achievements. Students are able to participate in local community service activities as well as visit a FIMRC clinic so that they may experience firsthand the goal of healthier children worldwide – the end result of FIMRC’s vision.

Project Alajuelita, Costa Rica FIMRC clinic in San Felipe, Alajuelita was established in January 2005. The centrally located space serves as a FIMRC base within the community for well-child and acute care visits, as well as psychological services. most rampant medical issues plaguing this population are readily treatable with preventative measures, education initiatives and continuous healthcare monitoring: diarrhea, head lice, malnutrition, and HIV. persistent social problems—the absence of clean water and sanitation facilities in rural areas, absent or overcrowded schools, underemployment, and increasing dropout rates in school.

Project Las Delicias, El Salvador community outreach: prevent common problems in the area such as malnutrition, gastrointestinal illnesses and respiratory infections. The innovative Micro Health Insurance Program (MHIP) was also launched in FIMRC’s El Salvador clinic in June, 2008. The MHIP is the world’s first non-monetary model of health insurance that incorporates health incentives with micro health insurance Micro-Health Insurance program launched in 2008. The MHIP is the world’s first non-monetary model of health insurance that incorporates health incentives with micro health insurance.

Project Kodaikanal, India In recent years, globalization has rapidly changed the face of this community. Ever-increasing numbers of international corporations, factories, and businesses have found a home in Kodaikanal; this economic growth has come at the expense of the local population, who often find themselves without jobs to support their families. Fighting extreme poverty and malnutrition, FIMRC’s focus is on crèches : a combination school, day care center, and health center for children between 2 and 5 years old providing basic shelter, food, education and care.

Project Limón, Nicaragua Only 6.3% of Nicaragua’s population carries health insurance.  As a result, child illness and mortality rates are high for the region. FIMRC partners with the government and local health clinics to provide free pediatric care to 8 communities surrounding Limon. The Limon region has ONE registered pediatrician. In addition, FIMRC staff is responsible for pre-natal and post-partum care that focuses on well child visits, health education and disease prevention.  Health outreach includes house visits, and education for expecting mothers.

Project Peru: Huancayo, Agallpampa, Trujillo Agallpampa is near the Andes and focus is on food security and nutrition. Huancayo health issues are a direct result of the lack of access to clean water. Trujillo, a coastal city, has health issues that arise from extreme poverty and city living. Due to the sparseness of the region, medical access is extremely limited. It is not uncommon for people to walk several hours to get to the closest health clinic. FIMRC works with local clinics to help expand the reach of the medical care provided, assisting with medical campaigns and working on health education.

Project Bumwalukani, Uganda The FIMRC partners with the Arlington Academy of Hope to provide healthcare to students and teachers. Providing the best care to students has included expanding FIRMCs reach to the community at large with focus on HIV education and treatment and education to combat preventable diseases. Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH) is a nonprofit organization aimed at enriching the lives of children in rural Uganda by providing access to high quality, well-rounded education within their village communities. Such education is dependent upon the health of its students and teachers, and the partnership initially provided the opportunity for FIMRC to administer basic healthcare to the 300 hundred students and teachers that attend the school, as well as serve the needs of the surrounding region.

Project Restauración, Dominican Republic FIMRC’s Project Restauración works with local health clinics to better train and observe medical professionals who are mostly recent medical school graduates who lack adequate supervision and deal with overflow from the nearby Haitian boarder. More than half of Dominicans lives in poverty. Although the prevalence of infectious disease is declining, its dominance will soon be replaced by chronic non-communicable diseases.

Past Events Voorhees Pediatric Facility (8/13) Card-Making Event (8/27)

Plans for Rowan FIMRC Teddy Bear and Doll Clinic Volunteering: Thursday, September 26 (11:45AM-12:45PM at Virtua Memorial Hospital) National Kidney Foundation Walk: Sunday, October 6 with GSBS M.A.P.S. (Philadelphia Zoo) After-School Program with Project Reach (October 2013) Volunteering Event at Voorhees Pediatric Facility Thursday, October 10 (3-4PM) & Sunday, October 20 (11AM-12PM) CPR Certification Class: Sunday, October 27 (10am-2pm) Community Outreach: Tutoring Programs – after-school help in neighboring areas, such as Camden. Local Volunteer – libraries, hospitals, soup kitchens, Ronald McDonald House, nursing homes. Health Education – work with local schools and health clinics, try to organize events with School of Public Health, participate in the annual health fair with MAPS.   Global Relief: Health Kits Donation Drives Adopt-A-Project Fundraisers: Bake Sales Charity Ball Dining to Donate Donate supplies with trips General Interest Meetings: Global Health Talks with Guest Speakers Grand Round Seminars TEDMED Talks

Get involved! More questions? Any ideas? Facebook: Rowan – SOM/GSBS FIMRC Twitter: Follow us @rowanfimrc Website: COMING SOON! More questions? Any ideas? No problem! E-mail us at rowanfimrc@gmail.com