School of Nursing in East Baltimore

While I agree with the ideas of Earl Fox (director, Urban Health Institute) on how to relate to people in poverty (Letters, May), I was greatly disappointed that he did not mention the School of Nursing when he referred to the "other organized efforts at Hopkins" now working to improve the health and well-being of the residents of East Baltimore.

For years now, the School of Nursing has been operating a comprehensive Community Outreach Program that can serve as an academic model for institutions of higher learning. In fact, the School of Nursing has been working to improve the health of East Baltimore residents since the turn of the century. Our students are eager to work in the community, and we provide them with plenty of opportunities to do so. That is why it was disappointing to read that "other organized efforts at Hopkins include interaction groups within medicine and public health that offer opportunities for students to get involved." I wish he had included nursing.

Kate Pipkin
Director of Communications
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

I was remiss in not mentioning the longstanding activities by the School of Nursing that through local sites such as the Wald clinics provide an array of very important services to the East Baltimore community.

Also, the first-year class of medical students has been working with the Urban Health Institute this year to provide testing and counseling for HIV to East Baltimore residents through the Men's Center. Approximately 25 medical students committed the time to become certified by the state to do testing and counseling and have volunteered time each evening Monday through Friday in this community setting.

Both groups are to be commended for their interest and commitment to the needs literally on our doorstep.

Claude Earl Fox, M.D.
Director, Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute