The New York Academy of Medicine: News & Publications: NYAM hosts reception for major donors

NYAM hosts reception for major donors

NYAM President Jo Ivey Boufford speaking at the reception for major NYAM donors.

President Jo Ivey Boufford hosted a reception for NYAM major donors on January 21 in the Reading Room of the Library. Attendees included members of the President’s Society, individuals, foundations and corporations who have significantly contributed to NYAM’s efforts to advance the health of people in cities. The occasion gave Dr. Boufford the opportunity to express her warm and sincere appreciation, and that of NYAM’s staff, for their loyal and longstanding support. She also gave an update on NYAM’s work creating an Age-friendly New York and our efforts to join the World Health Organization’s efforts to mark 2010 as the Year of Urban Health from World Health Day on April 7 to the International Conference on Urban Health that NYAM will host from October 27–29.

Although many different NYAM programs have been the recipient of the generosity of the donors present, the guests enjoyed a presentation by staff members of the Office of School Health Programs (OSHP) who spoke about the G.I.R.L.S. (Getting into Real Life Science) and the Health Professions initiative. Joanne De Simone Eichel, Director of OSHP, acknowledged the significant support of The New York Community Trust and, in particular, Joyce Bove, a Senior Vice President at the Trust, and Patricia White, Senior Program Officer for Children, Youth, and Families, for their belief in the mission of the G.I.R.L.S. program and their desire to help young women from groups underrepresented in health, science and medicine, pursue careers in these fields. Joanne also expressed her gratitude to the Liz Claiborne Foundation for their support of the initiative. Sejal Gandhi, Associate Director of OSHP and Senior Project Director for the Junior Fellows Program, and Osato Iyamu, Project Director for G.I.R.L.S., spoke about the initiative and the invaluable impact it has had on the many young women who have taken part since the program’s inception. The audience also viewed a short film on the G.I.R.L.S. initiative produced by Amy Hart, NYAM’s Director of Public Health Productions.

Leslie Auquilla, a graduate of the Junior Fellows Class of 2003 and current member of the Advisory Board of the G.I.R.L.S. initiative, spoke about the program’s impact on her and the many young women who have participated over the years. Leslie, a third year student at Sophie Davis School of BioMedical Education, explained: "I came out of the womb wanting to be a doctor, but these programs helped me find my way."

For more information on this event or to learn more about NYAM’s G.I.R.L.S. initiative, please visit us online at www.nyam.org/initiatives/shp-research.shtml.

Posted on 01/27/2010

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Andrew J. Martin
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