AN UPDATE FROM THE DR.

SAM BRISBANE FUND

Dear Dr. Sam Brisbane Fund Supporters,

On August 6
th
, we launched the Dr. Sam Brisbane Fund to raise funds to support
Ebola response and disaster risk reduction efforts at the JFK Memorial Medical
Center in Monrovia, Liberia. We set a goal in August of raising $50,000.00.
Because of your generosity and passion, in just a little over two months we have
raised over $25,000 pushing us over the half way mark to our goal. Thank you,
this couldnt be happening without you.

As we enter the second phase of the campaign, we wanted to update you about
our fundraising efforts, as well as some of the ways we are using the Fund to
support JFK Hospital.

Most importantly, we need your continued help. Can you please spread the
word about the Brisbane Fund today? Social media, letters to friends, phone
calls all of it will be required to reach our ambitious $50,000.00 goal. Does your
company or employer need a way to make an impact? Gifts to the Brisbane Fund
are tax deductible. Simply point people to
www.crowdrise.com/DrSamBrisbaneFund. Your donations and fundraising efforts
make this work. Help us continue to make a meaningful, long-term difference at
JFK.

Enjoy the update and thank you again for your support!

1. The Niapele Project Partners with Dr. Sam Brisbane Fund

In early-mid August we faced the daunting challenge of getting any amount of
supplies over to JFK as quickly as possible. Our fundraising campaign had not
yet generated enough money to arrange for shipping of bulk supplies so we
reached out to the world via a listserve for Liberian expatriates and made a great
connection with a social entrepreneur in Los Angeles,
California - Celina Guich. Celina, along with her
colleague Penelope Chester Starr, run the Niapele
Project in Monrovia, working with young children through
innovative programs. http://www.theniapeleproject.org

Celina was on her way to Liberia to check up on her
project and volunteered to carry over as many supplies
as the airline would allow her to. We took her up on her
offer and coordinated with our colleague Dr. Jeffrey Upperman at Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles to arrange for gloves, gowns, masks and other items to be
sent over. Additionally, Celina went on a shopping spree at Costco buying
anything she could. We also created, and Celina printed and laminated, dozens
of signs promoting hand washing and basic
hygiene for use throughout the hospital. This
was a major request of the hospital CEO, Dr.
Wvannie Scott-McDonald, and we were pleased
to be able to get it done for her right away.

Celina personally delivered these supplies to
JFK on our behalf, and had the opportunity to
meet with Dr. McDonald
and get a tour of the
facility. At the time of her
visit, the hospital was
completely closed as there were no staff available to treat
patients at the facility. However, within hours of
delivering the supplies, and while she was still with Dr.
McDonald, Celina witnessed patients being brought to the
hospital administration building suffering wounds as a
result of beatings during the enforcement of the quarantine in the West Point
neighborhood of Monrovia (pictured left). The supplies she delivered were
immediately put to use to try to protect the few healthcare workers available. It
was an astonishing turn of events and a powerful reminder of the major impact
that can be made even with modest gestures. We cannot thank Celina enough
for her selfless efforts on behalf of the hospital, and for her personal generosity in
funding the printing, laminating and supply purchasing for the facility.

2. Brisbane Fund Supports Infection Control Education

The fight against Ebola in the hospital begins and ends with a comprehensive
infection control program. Currently, no such program exists at JFK Memorial
Medical Center. Following our return from JFK in July, 2014, Josh and I met with
Dr. McDonald to discuss strategies to improve infection control efforts inside the
hospital. We all agreed that a sustained and effective infection control program
would require a sustained investment and capacity building among the staff at
JFK.

We are pleased to announce that as an initial step to develop infection control
program development at JFK, the Brisbane Fund is supporting a JFK nursing
leaders attendance at the American Professionals in Infection Control (APIC)
Education for Prevention of Infection 101 and 201 courses to be held in
November in Albuquerque, NM. Munah Tarpeh, MPH, RN will attend the
intensive weeklong course and then return to Monrovia to begin institutionalizing
the infection control program and training other nurses in the facility. The APIC
EPI course is the gold-standard fundamental course for infection control
practitioners in the US. The course introduces the various roles and
responsibilities of the Infection Preventionist. Areas of emphasis include how to
prepare surveillance and risk assessment plans, evidence-based methods for
preventing transmission of infectious diseases, and how to handle employee
exposures. A certified and experienced faculty team presents the course with a
hands-on training approach.



3. Jason McClara, MSN, RN, CNS Galvanizes Support for Sam Brisbane
Fund Among Indianapolis Nursing Community Indiana Association of
Critical Care Nurses Meets the Challenge

An early and ardent supporter of the Dr. Sam Brisbane Fund, Jason McClara,
MSN, RN, CNS, a nurse at the Indianapolis VA Hospital, has done extraordinary
work promoting the fund among Indianapolis-area nurses. He has been a
tireless advocate of the fund, sending emails and messages to potential donors
and partners. This is a great example of nurses helping nurses all the way
across the globe.

One of his outreach efforts resulted in a great partnership with the Indiana
Association of Critical Care Nurses who donated funds raised through their
annual bowl-a-thon to the Brisbane Fund and even matched the donations
dollar for dollar up to $500. THANK you to all who participated!

4. Assessing Availability of Critical Supplies in Monrovia

A major challenge associated with the Brisbane Fund has been arranging the
purchase and shipment of supplies to Monrovia. Established supply lines have
ben degraded since the Ebola outbreak, especially air freight shipment. Only two
airlines continue to provide passenger and freight service to Monrovia.
Additionally, with the influx of US troops and supplies, it is unclear what supplies
are actually needed. JFK administrators tell us that PPE is still an urgent need.

Our belief is that funds to secure PPE should be spent locally in Monrovia if at all
possible. The Friends of Liberia organization is undertaking an assessment of
supplies available in the region. The Brisbane Fund is supporting the cost of
additional personnel to help with this inventory effort so that we can determine
where PPE supplies can be purchased. We hope this effort is completed next
week so that purchasing can begin. This will greatly reduce the time between
purchase and delivery of supplies, and will ensure that supplies are taken directly
to JFK and installed on units. Special thanks to Dr. Verlon Stone, Friends of
Liberia Ebola Task Force and Special Advisor, Indiana University Liberian
Collections/African Studies Collection at the Indiana University Libraries for this
connection and opportunity.

5. Extend a Hand to Liberia Campaign

We received a wonderful message from Dr. Judy Banks, a New Jersey based
OB/GYN physician who had previously visited Liberia and met Dr. Scott-
McDonald, and who wanted to join efforts to support JFK. Dr. Banks and her
resident colleague Dr. Liza Lizarraga developed the Extend a Hand to Liberia
campaign to support the purchase of PPE and supplies. So far, the group has
raised several hundred dollars and is beginning the process of outreach in the
greater New York City region. All funds raised will contribute to the Dr. Sam
Brisbane Fund and will be earmarked for PPE purchase. Were so pleased to
welcome Dr. Banks and Dr. Lizarraga to the effort and are grateful for their
support.

6. Media and Organization Links

The Brisbane Fund has received a lot of attention from media outlets throughout
the United States. Below is just a small sampling:

A Good Death by Josh Mugele and Chad Priest from New England Journal of
Medicine: http://t.co/Gh4mDGO1Te

http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/09/10/346870314/how-could-a-
doctors-death-from-ebola-possibly-be-good

Dr. Josh Mugele on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/10/14/356045068/panic-in-the-
parking-lot-a-hospital-sees-its-first-ebola-case

http://wishtv.com/2014/10/13/iu-hosts-forum-on-ebola/

http://www.wthr.com/story/26155976/2014/07/30/indiana-doctor-saw-start-of-
ebola-crisis-on-trip

http://fox59.com/2014/07/28/hoosiers-help-with-ebola-outbreak/


http://inscopearchive.iu.edu/headlines/2014-08-14-headline-ebola-support-
campaigns-inscope.shtml

http://www.meshcoalition.org/news/129

http://jodysparks.com/tag/sam-brisbane/