Last Friday, the Ursuline Academy community learned about
the empowering effect of service in Haiti.
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| Donna Cullinan |
Donna Cullinan, a practicing nurse practitioner and a
Clinical Assistant Professor at the Boston College School of Nursing, came to
UA with three of her nursing students from BC on Friday morning. Cullinan has traveled to Haiti many times
over the past ten years to offer her nursing services to those in need. She is also in charge of the Community Health
program for senior nursing students at BC, and through this program brought ten
of her students to Haiti in January 2012.
Cullinan and her three students shared stories and photos
from their week of service in Haiti, emphasizing the sense of hope in the
country as it continues to recover from the devastating earthquake in January
2010. Cullinan and the students said
that their philosophy was to enable the people of Haiti and to help them help
themselves. “Don’t just do, teach,”
Cullinan said when describing their approach.
“Respect their culture and traditions and work with them to do it their
way, not your way.”
The nursing students emphasized the importance of making a
connection with the people, noting that even though they were just students and
not certified nurses, they still felt they were able to make a difference by
listening and showing that they cared. In
addition to offering medical services and a helping hand, the group also raised
money to bring medications like Tylenol(c) and Advil(c) with them to Haiti.
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| Sue Lawler P '13, '15 '16, Principal Mary Jo Keaney, Ursuline students, the BC nursing students and Donna Cullinan |
The UA students enjoyed the presentation and were eager
participants when Cullinan opened the floor to questions. They asked whether children or adults in
Haiti needed more help ("both," the BC nursing students said), and why we don’t
hear more about the hardships in the country.
Cullinan left the students with an inspiring message: “All of you can
effect change in a positive way,” she told them.
Cullinan is the sister of Bill Lawler P ’13, ’15 ‘16 and
Robert Lawler P ’11 ‘15. Special thanks
to Sue Lawler P ’13, ’15 ‘16 for her help organizing these speakers!
