University doctors help Katrina evacuees in Fort Worth

By Terri Rimmer

Happy News Citizen Journalist

The University of North Texas (UNT) Health Science Center doctors of osteopathy, physicians' assistants, and medical students spent the Labor Day weekend attending to victims of Hurricane Katrina at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth.

Faculty, staff, and students continue to man a station at the coliseum providing medical care while Fort Worth awaits another wave of evacuees.

"We'll be available as long as we're needed," said Dean Marc B. Hahn, D.O., one of the attending physicians this past weekend.

On the health science center campus several organizations have begun benefits to raise money or donations to help aid the hurricane victims.

The Forensic Investigative Research & Education Group (FIRE) is now accepting clothing donations. Donation boxes are located in the atrium, Kiva lounge, the Stairwell Café, and the first floor lobby of the Center for BioHealth building. For more information, email the group at FIRE@hsc.unt.edu.

The Office of Student Affairs and the Public Student Health Association (PHSA) will hold a pizza fundraiser from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 16th in the atrium at the health science center located on Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth. People will be able to buy a slice of pizza and a soft drink for $5.00. All money raised will go the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Effort.

The Employee Benefits Action Committee will place buckets in the atrium of the Education and Administration Building and the Stairwell Café to collect monetary donations for victims. Money will be picked up on a daily basis.

UNT's regularly scheduled blood drive was moved to Sept. 6th to address the immediate need for blood in the aftermath of the hurricane. The original event was scheduled for the 13th but health science center officials moved the drive to respond to critical needs. The blood drive on the science center campus was in association with Carter BloodCare.

UNT will also be accepting up to 20 students in their School of Public Health and are looking into admissions for some in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Faculty, students, and students doing residencies at local hospitals will continue to provide medical services as long as they are needed, said Kay Colley, acting director of Marketing and Communications at UNT.

One UNT dean sent a group of doctors, residents, and physician assistants to New Orleans to tend to the victims after he was contacted by the Tarrant County Health Department. One of the doctors called several Jump House stores until he found one that had a "house" for children who are victims of the hurricane to play in. Some UNT students will also be joining the group in New Orleans.

Check the UNTHSC web site periodically for up-to-date information to find out how you can help the hurricane victims.

The Chisholm Trail Chapter of the Red Cross also needs volunteers. Call 817-336-8718 for more information.

This story was produced by a Happynews Citizen Journalist.

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