Request for help for the Office of Educational Development at UTMB in Galveston

October 2008

Dear Colleagues,

As you know the Galveston/Houston area was struck by hurricane Ike a few
weeks ago. The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston was
severely damaged by the storm and the Office of Educational Development
(OED) which is on the first floor was flooded with about five feet of
salt water from Galveston Bay, destroying all their equipment, books and
papers. OED is one of the earliest medical education programs
(established February 1971) to support excellence in teaching and
assessment.

As former members of the Office we are organizing a drive to collect
donations to help our friends and former colleagues rebuild their
office. While eventually they could use books, educational material and
equipment, it will be quite some time before they would be able to
receive these as the UTMB campus remains closed and it is not clear
where OED will be housed in the future. They would however welcome
donations as well as cards and letters of support.

If you would like to send a donation, card or letter, please use the
following address as the campus mail system is in the process of being
restored:

Ann Frye, PhD, Director
Office of Educational Development / UTMB
c/o OMERAD
A-202 E Fee Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824

If you would like to send an e-mail passing on your support, please send
it to awfrye@utmb.edu

If you would like to make a donation, checks can be made out to OED/UTMB.

We will pass on your letters and cards to OED as soon as they are able
to receive them. Please note, there are some other efforts being
organized to help OED and the offices of medical education damaged by
Hurricane Katrina. We hope you support these efforts as well. In
addition, A display and announcement will also be made for pledges and
donations at the annual AAMC and The Generalists in Medical Education
conference in San Antonio, TX; November 2008.

Thank you,

Gwendie Camp
Linda Perkowski
Emil Petrusa
Jack Scott
Dave Solomon