Catherine Pollock, MS-II, discusses ways that students can assist Hurricane Katrina survivors.
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Medical students from the Health Science Center met in the Briscoe Library Thursday to plan their long-term service to survivors of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

The meeting participants were among 122 students who conducted a cot-by-cot survey of 2,000 patients at the KellyUSA 171 shelter the day after Labor Day. The survey assessed the patients’ general health status and their need for referrals to the clinic established at the shelter. Clinic sections include diabetes, immunizations, mental health and pediatrics, to name a few.

One long-term student project will be to continue that epidemiological survey. Another is to coordinate medical student volunteers at the Baptist church shelters housing individuals with special needs.

A third project will help child survivors develop a therapeutic means of dealing with the hurricane. Medical students will approach children about documenting their experiences in their own handwriting. A healing release through artwork is another possibility.

Students told personal anecdotes of their work with the survivors. Catherine Pollock, MS-II, recalled encouraging an elderly woman to eat. “The woman was curled up in a ball and did not want to get up,” Pollock said. “We made a deal that she take two bites of food per hour.”

Like many students and faculty from the Medical School, School of Nursing, School of Allied Health Sciences and Dental School, Pollock worked long hours at KellyUSA. As she was concluding 32 straight hours of volunteering, she welcomed 36 first-year medical students who showed up at 6 a.m. to help, even though they were in the midst of exams.

Students talked with people on the cots, acted as gatekeepers for the triage intake area and delivered prescriptions to cots. “Students went sleeping area by sleeping area calling out people’s names to deliver prescriptions,” Pollock said. “Some of the people had not had their prescriptions in over a week.”

“For those who have volunteered or donated, thank you for your tireless effort,” said Kathy Kordy, MS-II, in a note to medical students. “We will continue to support our new neighbors in whatever way we can, and proudly represent the Health Science Center.”


Contact: Will Sansom
Phone: (210) 567-2579
E-mail: sansom@uthscsa.edu