Letters to the Editor
When the Birth Companions were Born
I was part of the original group that formed Birth Companions in 1996-1997 at JHUSON and I was thrilled to read that the group is alive and well. The original group was extremely motivated to provide basic doula care to women in Baltimore, so we arranged to have doula training at our own expense. I then developed a close relationship with a pregnant Baltimore teen, which included weekly home visits, prepared childbirth classes, and being her support person during her delivery. It was an incredibly enriching experience and helped me embark on my now 12 years of labor and delivery nursing.
I think it is wonderful that the nursing program has embraced this ideal to the level of providing a two-credit elective course. It makes me proud, once again, to be a JHU alum.
Megan McLean McIntyre,
Accelerated ’97, RNC
For the Whole Health Care System
Today our library received volume VII, issue II of Johns Hopkins Nursing. I don’t know if Unity Hospital has any Hopkins nursing graduates, but feel the hospital nurses would benefit from seeing the magazine.
The [Unity Hospital] library was established in 1948 to support the new Residency program, and that was the primary focus until 2.5 years ago. The doctor who hired me, Dr. James Haley, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Unity Hospital, told me he wanted [me] to drag the medical library into the 21st Century. He also said “someday I would like to see the library serving the whole healthcare system.” It is doing that today, including the 800+ nursing staff in the various facilities in and around Rochester.
Your publication is more than an alumni news vehicle: it promotes, supports, and educates nurses. I will publicize the article “Chill Out:…” and “Strong Women, Healthy Lives”.
Ray CurtinLibrarian, Interlakes Medical Library at Unity Hospital
Rochester, NY
Global Connections, India to Uganda
I felt the article [“Our Nurse in Uganda,” p. 18] is inspiring.
I am working as principal of a college of nursing in India. Before this posting, I was working as Nursing Superintendent at Sassoon General Hospital and B. J. Medical College in Pune [India], where I had the opportunity to work in collaboration with a team from the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Clinical Health Education. We had organized a need-based training program, “Nursing Training Curriculum: HIV Practice and Reducing Stigma,” for nurses working at the hospital. It was a very enriching, interesting, and encouraging event in my life. I feel it was because of involvement of the Hopkins team, including Hopkins nurse Lisa Scotti.
This article communicates a somewhat similar result in the case of Uganda. Nurses can play vital role in many crucial situations and to bring about many social economical changes in the society.
If, in my life, I get the opportunity to work in any collaborative activity run by JHU, I will try my best to be part of such activity for developing countries.
I wish success in all the activities of JHU and nurses of Uganda.
Mangala A Joshi
Principal, Sinhgad College of Nursing
Pune, India
Staff Award is SPOT-On
I just received the summer edition of Johns Hopkins Nursing and was delighted to see [Dean Martha Hill] pictured with Eugene Mobley. While I did not know his name until today, I recognized him because every time I visit, he goes the extra mile in terms of greeting me, storing my luggage, and asking if I need assistance. He always makes my visit more enjoyable.
Please pass along my sincerest congratulations for receiving the first SPOT Award! And good for you for recognizing this outstanding staff member.
Gail H Cassell
Vice President of Scientific Affairs,
Eli Lilly and Company
Member, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing National Advisory Council
More “Men Who Dare to Care”
I enjoyed reading several pieces in the summer 2009 issue of Johns Hopkins Nursing (v. VII, no. II), especially the article about men in nursing, “Meet the men who dare to care,” p. 42-45. Then, as I turned back through the issue I noticed the full-page ad on p. 33, “Johns Hopkins Nursing: Many faces. Countless opportunities.” Only one small headshot at the bottom was of a man.
I could not help but think that it may have been nice to see a smiling man and a smiling woman as the main images on that page. Perhaps future Johns Hopkins Nursing full-page ads can include men in clinical nursing roles, working to break the image of nursing as women’s work, and supporting the recruitment of “men who dare to care.”
Thomas Hill
Librarian, Self Regional Healthcare
Medical Library
The editors of Johns Hopkins Nursing are committed to representing the diversity within the nursing profession, and we encourage our advertisers to do the same.
Where are the Class Notes?
I really enjoy reading our alumni publication, however, I was incredibly disappointed that one of the usual components, updates on fellow alumni by year, was not included in our most recent issue.
Since I’m a busy mother of two young children and work part-time, I relish the opportunity to see what my fellow classmates and other alumni are doing. Not including this particular component has really been particularly bothersome.
Please don’t relegate this component to the “chopping block.” I’m confident that I’m not the only alumna who feels similarly.
Cynthia Henry Thurlow ’98, MSN ’00
Like so many other organizations today, the Johns Hopkins Nurses’ Alumni Association has been affected by the economy’s decline and is doing its best to cut costs and work more efficiently. www.son.jhmi.edu/alumni/classnews or request a hard copy from the alumni office at [email protected]or 410-955-4285.
After much discussion, JHNAA decided to lower the cost of producing the alumni section by putting the class news online instead. An exception is this fall issue, which reports on Homecoming 2009 and includes some class news.
You can always read your class notes online at
Letters to Johns Hopkins Nursing
We welcome all letters regarding the magazine or issues relating to Hopkins Nurses. Email 250 words or less to [email protected] or send to:
Editor, Johns Hopkins Nursing
525 N. Wolfe Street
The House, Room 107
Baltimore, MD 21205
Letters may be edited for length or clarity.
