Recorded presentation

Geraldine Gorman, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 S. Damen, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-413-9013, ggorman@uic.edu and Richard David, MD, Neonatology, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, 1901 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60612.

Gino Strada, MD and founder of Emergency, international aid organization, contends there can be no war on terrorism for war is terrorism. Prevention must be public health’s priority. For many, this is not reality. Monies diverted from community services fund "preparedness" programs. Universities receive substantial grant support for research in and classroom instruction on "bioterrorism." Poor, uninsured, and veterans cannot obtain basic healthcare. With cutbacks undermining the independence of state institutions, universities compete for government grants, perpetuating the administration’s political ideology, furthering our distance from the community.

To bridge this chasm, public health practitioners within and around the University of Illinois at Chicago formed a coalition between the institution and the community. Following first strikes against Iraq, meetings were called by physicians, public health and nursing faculty, social workers and veterans. We sought dialogue between this multi-ethnic community and students at this diverse campus. Our efforts culminated in a forum held last November. Students and community members heard such social activists as Kathy Kelly of the Iraqi advocacy group Voices in the Wilderness, Doug Rokke, physicist and Gulf War veteran and several Vietnam vets. Breakaway groups discussed issues and considered strategies of discernment on crucial policy matters. Our goal remains efficacious response to national/ international policy decisions.

Our presentation outlines both frustrations and successes encountered in this coalition between university and community, obstacles encountered and plans to implement. The multidisciplinary panel of nurses, physician, student and Vietnam veteran, invites comments on matters of peace and public health, environmental impacts of war and diversion of public health mission from violence prevention to disaster preparedness.

Learning Objectives: Particpants at this session will benefit from a discussion of the complexities and potential of coalition building between academic/practice disciplines and across the university/community borders. Participants will identify their own experiences with coalition building; analyze the nature of their successes/failures; evalute the potential of future strategies. At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the University of Illinois @ Chicago's attempt to link faculty, students, veterans and community representatives.
• Articulate and prioritize core principles of the Public Health mission as distinct from political agenda.
• Develop the foundation for ongoing alliances to promote education and discernment in response to public health policy issues.
• Create new possibilities for peaceful and nonviolent cooperation in the maintenance of public health mission.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation