Medical School
Trained in Cuba, U.S. Doctors Describe Month in Haiti
by Renee Feltz, the Indypendent, March 12, 2010
After the Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated Haiti, Dr. Melissa Barber received a call asking her to help treat people left injured and living in squalid conditions.
“There was no question,” said Barber, 30, who was born and raised in the Bronx and worked in quality assessment at St. Barnabas Hospital in the heart of the borough. “I actually resigned and I made plans to go to Haiti for a month. That is how much it’s ingrained in me to help the underserved communities when they are in need.”
Curriculum and plan of studies
An overview of the curriculum and general plan of studies at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba Read more >
Frequently Asked Questions
A list of some of the most common questions asked about the scholarship program at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba. Read more >
The Scholarship Program for US Students at the Latin American School of Medicine
An overview of the scholarship program for US students at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba. Read more >
Palante Salsa Dance Party for Haiti! Ithaca, NY
JOIN US!
7:30PM Cris McConkey of Ithaca Friends of Cuba will present on IFCO campaign and inter-American solidarity efforts with the people of Haiti.
8:30PM Rhythm with Drumming Dance Workshop
9PM Free Survival Latin Dance Lesson
Admission $4 Students, $6 Non-Students
$1 Draft Beer, $2 Imported Drafts
18+ ID Required, $4 Students/$6 Non-Students
Palante’s solidarity work with Haiti is taking place in collaboration
with Ithaca Friends of Cuba (IFC) and other local partners. Our campaign
is grassroots – we seek broad community participation to make it as
successful as possible. We are working with the Interreligious
Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO)/Pastors for Peace and the
Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR), both based in New York City,
and allied with sister organizations on the ground in Jacmel and
Port-au-Prince, Haiti. IFCO and HWHR make frequent visits to bring
supplies and work with the Cuban Medical Team in Haiti, which is
comprised of 350 doctors and other medical personnel. (Learn more at
http://www.ifconews.org/node/723.) On Tuesday, IFCO sent seven doctors
with 750 lbs of medical supplies to Haiti. More is coming. Palante and
IFC's grassroots campaign kicks off this Saturday at our 7:30pm
presentation at the Big Red Barn. The collection drive is currently
underway and you can begin to help right now! Read through to bottom of
email to find out how.
PRESENTATION
Cris McConkey of Ithaca Friends of Cuba will lead presentation on IFCO
campaign and inter-American solidarity efforts with the people of Haiti.
Comparative approaches to disaster preparation and relief will be
discussed. Of particular interest is a comparison of solidarity based
crisis response, with teams already in place before disasters strike,
and models premised on good will fused with geopolitical, corporate and
military considerations, which comprise part of United States and United
Nations strategy.
FEATURING... REVEREND LUCIUS WALKER, Recorded Interview
Radio Interview of Reverend Lucius Walker with Tavis Smiley, accompanied
by slide show
Listen to interview now at:
http://www.tavissmileyradio.com/guests10/012910/LuciusWalker.html
Reverend Lucius Walker is the founder of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. In this
interview he tells us about the US-born, Cuban-trained doctors headed to
Haiti [now in Haiti] and why their unique training has prepared them for
this mission. Interview was conducted on 1/29 and aired on the Tavis
Smiley Show on 2/3.
MAY ALSO INCLUDE: MANOLO DE LOS SANTOS, Interview from the Dominican
Republic via Skype
Manolo de los Santos is a Caravan and youth organizer with IFCO/Pastors
for Peace as well as deacon of the Iglesia San Romero de Las
Americas-UCC in New York City. The goal of this ministry is “the
empowerment and enrichment of New York City’s Latino/Hispanic
communities… on the basis of the social and political dimensions of
their spirituality.” (For more info, Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7877143707.) Manolo accompanied
seven US doctors, all graduates of the Latin American School of
Medicine, into Haiti on Wednesday. The seven young women physicians
arrived in Haiti to begin a month or more of medical service alongside
the Cuban medical brigade. The doctors come from Harlem, Brooklyn, the
Bronx, and Staten Island in New York City; from Houston and from
Minnesota. Two of them are currently working in Oakland, CA. A number of
their fellow graduates are hoping to join them soon for the urgent work
in Haiti. Manolo arrived in the Dominican Republic yesterday.
HELP NOW
Join us in our local support effort on campus and in the Ithaca
community by setting up a collections box. See attached documents:
1. Print out the Haiti Donations sign and Supplies list attached to this
email. Tape them to any box that can be used for donations.
2. Set box out at your office, department, workplace, church, or other
community space you are connected to.
3. Email the supplies list to your friends, colleagues and coworkers and
tell them what you’re doing.
4. When box is full, call Jonathan Kline at the number on the donations
sign (607-387-5718) or email palante@cornell.edu. We will arrange to
have it picked up. We will store the supplies and get them to New York
City periodically.*
* Volunteer drivers for local pickup and New York City drop-off, and
offers of storage space, are welcome and much appreciated. Storage space
must be of moderate temperature and low to medium humidity.
MORE INFO
SalsaSon Latin Dance Party-Haiti Solidarity Event Website:
http://www.palantetroupe.org/events.html
Ithaca Friends of Cuba: http://www.ithacacubafriendship.org/
IFCO Website: http://www.ifconews.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=263802044309
LOCAL SPONSORS & COLLABORATORS
Proyecto Palante, Ithaca Friends of Cuba, Latino Studies Program,
Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations, Salsa en Rueda Dance Troupe
Palante. This list is growing. If your organization wants to be a part
of this, please send email to palante@cornell.edu.
Friday Feb 5 -Riverside Church NYC- Brahms Requiem -to Benefit IFCO Medical Aid to Haiti
Fear No Frontier’s Symphony of Dreams Haiti Memorial Benefit Concert
Benefit concert for Haiti - Proceeds go to IFCO/Pastors for Peace Haiti Medical Relief
Fund.
Over 100 of New York City’s finest musicians will come together to
present a “once-in-a-lifetime” performance of the venerable Brahms
Requiem at the majestic Riverside Church in Manhattan on Friday
Feb.5th at 8:00PM.
For Tickets Call 888-71-tickets ($15 in advance, $10 Seniors and
Students, and $20 at the door). Representatives from IFCO will be on
hand to accept tax deductible donations.
There will be an encore performance the following night, Saturday Feb.
6th, also at 8:00PM, at the Our Lady of Refuge Church in Brooklyn.
The new philharmonic orchestra and choir conducted by will be
conducted by maestro Joseph Jones, who has appeared with the MIT
Summer Philharmonic, the Moscow Symphony and the Orchestra Sinfonica
de Coyo in Argentina.
Fear No Frontier’s Symphony of Dreams performance of Brahms Requiem
also features soprano Michelle Trovato, winner of numerous national
and international awards from Albania to Washington (including the
Metropolitan Opera National Council) and baritone Austin Larusson,
with a Special Guest Appearance by “deSouza” ~ an a capella family
singing group from Australia with music sales and fans spanning the
globe.
Sponsored by IFCO/Pastors for Peace (http://ifconews.org), Fear No
Frontier ~ A Symphony of Dreams is presenting this Memorial Concert
Benefit not only to commemorate those lost in the Haiti earthquake
tragedy, but to also help get medical support to those still living
who need it now.
IFCO/Pastor for Peace Representatives will be on hand to accept the
tax-deductible donations. Visit http://symphonyforhaiti.org for more
information.
Proceeds will immediately go to provide medicine and other relief
supplies for doctors and medical personnel in Haiti.
Fear No Frontier’s trust-bond is to raise awareness of worldwide
suffering and injustice, and to take action to help correct these
conditions.
Haiti Medical Relief: Lucius Walker on Tavis Smiley Show
http://www.tavissmileyradio.com/guests10/012910/LuciusWalker.html
Hear Rev. Lucius Walker talk about the eight US graduates of the Latin American School of Medicine who are headed to Haiti. Read more >
Check Out Our New Speakers Bureau!
Now is Your Opportunity to Work with Our Network of Local, National, and International Organizers and Educators Read more >
Latin American School of Medicine Scholarship Program Info Session, New Mexico
Are you interested in finding out more about the Latin American School of Medicine? Rev. Lucius Walker Jr., Executive Dircetor of IFCO will answer your questions and talk about this incredible opportunity during this presentation sponsored by Indian Resource Development and Black Programs at New Mexico State University.
Cuba’s public health care system is world-renowned. Cuba has trainedhundreds of doctors from African and Latin American nations, whoreturn to practice medicine in their countries.
MEDICAL SCHOOL FREE OF CHARGE Cuba is reaching out to underserved regions of the United States, to train US physicians for reservations, rural areas, and inner cities where medical services are desperately needed.
Learn about the Latin American School of Medicine (LASM) in Havana Cuba and fully paid scholarships including room and board that Cuba has offered to U.S. students who want to study medicine. Spanish language skills are not required.
Five hundred scholarships are available for young adults in the U.S. with an interest in studying medicine and a sincere dedication to practice in medically underserved communities in the United States.
Video: Che's Anatomy
This video report by Gabrielle Weiss originally aired on the PBS program "Foreign Exchange" with Fareed Zakaria on December 1, 2006.