• Public & Media Relations
• Upstate News Home
• About This Office
• Today's Calendar
• Photo Gallery
• News Archives
• Publications
• Physician's Practice
• UpstateOnline
• Upstate Health
• Freedom of Information
• Upstate Social Media
• Public Affairs & Communications Home

Upstate News

Upstate community and campus visitors raise more than $11,000 for Haiti earthquake relief

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University employees, volunteers, students and campus visitors have raised $11,687 for Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

Monies raised during the two-week fund drive will be dispersed to three agencies that are helping with relief efforts in Haiti: the American Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and Partners in Health.

Upstate’s Office of Community Outreach and Global Health Education (COGHE), Team Upstate and Upstate Medical University students coordinated the fund drive, setting up donation locations all across campus.

“The outpouring of support for this effort is truly inspiring,” said Susan Stearns, Ph.D., associate professor and director of COGHE. “The devastation from the earthquake in Haiti has moved many people to contribute to relief efforts, and we wanted to support our campus community with a way to help.”

Upstate has close ties with Haiti, with eight students from Haiti enrolled at the university. Five second-year medical students spent the recent holiday break there, donating medical supplies and volunteering at the main hospital and bringing clothing for children in orphanages. They returned to classes before the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake. Several faculty members also have provided medical training and expertise to the Central American country over the years.