April 28, 2010

Utah Nurse to be Recognized for Decade-Plus Relief Work in Haiti

(Salt Lake City, Utah) – As a founding member of and volunteer for medical rehabilitation non-profit Healing Hands for Haiti, Lisa Bagley, MSN, RN, CRRN has traveled to the poverty-ravaged nation annually for the last 12 years to help save and improve the lives of disabled children and adults through rehabilitation and education. In recognition of her efforts, Bagley will receive the Dare to Care Award during the 16th Annual Honors for Nursing, to be held Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at Little America Hotel (500 South Main Street) in Salt Lake City. Hosted by the University of Utah College of Nursing Alumni Board and held in conjunction with National Nurses Week, Honors for Nursing recognizes nurses and supporters of nursing from throughout the region. Revenue generated from the event provides scholarships to students at the College of Nursing. The celebratory evening culminates with the presentation of the Dare to Care Award to an individual or organization in recognition of their significant community contributions which reflect and promote the ideals of the nursing profession.

Through educating and training patients, clinicians and caregivers on rehab medicine, Bagley works with the organization’s corps of volunteers to create a better chronic living environment for disabled patients, often reintegrating them into school and mainstream society so they can lead productive lives. Professionally the Nursing Director, Intensive Medicine at Intermountain Medical Center, Bagley, who also is an alumna of the College of Nursing, credits her volunteer service with keeping her focused on the most important role of a nurse, stating, “It is about caring about the patient and their family members, and what happens to them. Our ability to impact their care and their very personal life experience is the foundation for what we do.”

As Healing Hands for Haiti responds to the January 2010 earthquake that has devastated what was already one of the world’s poorest countries, Bagley has helped to triage medical support for the most vulnerable victims of the catastrophe. She was able to visit Haiti three weeks following the disaster to help provide medical care and rehabilitation to individuals who lost limbs in the quake. Still, Bagley insists she is the one reaping the benefits of her service. “I don’t feel like my work is any sacrifice on my part, because it is a privilege for me to be able to help people in need of rehabilitation,” she says. “It is heartbreaking at times, absolutely. But I can’t imagine not doing it.”

To celebrate it’s 10th anniversary, Healing Hands for Haiti invited board members, team leaders, volunteers, staff and associates from Haiti and North America to a strategic planning conference in Toronto, Canada, November 6 through 8. The last international conference was held in Miami, Florida, in June 2006. Since then, the organization remodelled governance, established new accounting and clinic reporting systems, developed volunteer marketing and fund-raising teams, expanded services and programs to Haitians and is on the road to building Haiti’s first physical medicine and rehabilitation institute.

Central themes explored at the conference were cultural sensitivity, transparency, accountability and strategic planning. Guests were hosted at the BMO Institute for Learning  and participated in workshops, heard expert presentations and enjoyed a multi-cultural silent auction and tour of the CN Tower. Anne Randell, President and CEO of the William Osler Health System Foundation showed the conference delegates how to fund raise for a major new institution, such as hers; and how to embrace cultural diversity within an organization and throughout its community. Dr. Colleen O’Connell, President of Team Canada Healing Hands Inc. and member of the Board of Healing Hands for Haiti, presented on the life cycle on non governmental organizations (NGOs), focusing on success pathways for the future.

The next international conference is expected to be held in Port au Prince, Haiti in 2011.

Success in Fundraising and Cultural Awareness in a Hospital Foundation Anne Randell, President and CEO of the William Osler Health System Foundation

Life Cycles of Non Profits adapted by Dr. Colleen O’Connell

Go to Flickr for event media album

Happy 10th Birthday Cake presented
in Toronto by (from left) Dr. Jeff Randle, founder,
Healing Hands for Haiti and Chair of the Governance Committee,
Dr. Ben Nau, President of the Haitian Board,
Dr. Steve Fisher, President of the International Board

Delivering the donated soccer equipment is
Jeff Campbell, General Manager, Team Canada.
Accepting is Jonas Petit, representing Hollywood
Unites for Haiti.

Team Canada was supported by UN Police on visit to Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 2009.

The Canadian Medical Association, represents 50,000 physicians in Canada. To facilitate volunteer opportunities for its many members interested in participating in international programs, the CMA features partnerships on its web site. Healing Hands for Haiti was recently highlighted as a feature partner. We welcome inquiries and support from Canadian health care professionals.

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